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Oh, those European nights. The excitement. The nervousness masked beneath brazen hope. The cryptic yet glorious anthem setting off a wonderful tingling sensation. The unfurled Champions League flag glittering in the centre circle. Oh, those European nights.
Champions League nights are in a world of their own, especially in the latter knockout stages. This is where the elite crop of players face off against each other for continental glory. The experience is an unbelievable one for players and fans alike.
Fortunately for the London club, Chelsea have had quite a few such nights, especially since the turn of the millennium. Since 2003, they have reached 7 semi-finals, 2 finals and clinched the trophy in 2012. Certainly a commendable track record.
On that note, here are the top five nights in Chelsea's Champions League outings...
#5 Chelsea 4-2 Barcelona (Round of 16 2nd leg, 2004-05)
The Blues were trailing 1-2 from the first leg in Jose Mourinho's first season in charge. They were looking for a strong start, but what followed was incredible. Chelsea raced into a 3-0 lead inside 20 minutes by virtue of goals from Eidur Gudjohnsen, Frank Lampard and Damien Duff.
The Stamford Bridge faithful could barely contain themselves. However, the sheer genius of Ronaldinho silenced them. He converted a penalty and stabbed home a delightful second from an impossible position.
The Catalans were in pole position to progress on the away goal rule, but it was Chelsea who had the final say. Skipper John Terry jumped highest from Duff's corner to guide the ball past Victor Valdes to send the crowd into raptures, and Chelsea to the last eight.
A remarkable game in which Chelsea were indebted to Petr Cech for some outstanding stops. The final whistle saw jubilant celebrations, capping off a cracking game of football.
Chelsea lost to Liverpool in the semi-finals that season, but those first 20 minutes against Barcelona will not be forgotten.
#4 Chelsea 4-4 Liverpool (Quarter-final 2nd leg, 2008-09)
Yes. It really was 4-4 in a Champions League quarter-final. Not a typo.
This match was memorable for its importance as well as for the sheer entertainment it provided. Both teams were missing their skippers in the form of John Terry and Steven Gerrard.
Liverpool, trailing 1-3 from the first leg, started strongly and took a 2-0 lead due to some scandalous errors by Petr Cech. Chelsea clawed back, as goals from Didier Drogba and Alex levelled the score. They scored again, as Lampard netted to put the tie beyond doubt. Or so it seemed.
Liverpool scored through Lucas and Dirk Kuyt in 2 minutes which put them within a goal of aggregate victory. The stadium hushed nervously but Lampard struck again to take the aggregate scoreline to 7-5.
Amidst all the goals there were many chances, rough tackles and numerous duels. A night which was high on emotions one which the Blues won't forget in a hurry.
#3 Chelsea 4-1 Napoli (Round of 16, 2nd leg, 2011-12)
Chelsea faced the daunting task of overturning a 3-1 deficit. They were up against a formidable attacking trio of Cavani, Lavezzi and Hamsik who tore them apart in Naples.
Drogba got the opening goal and Terry netted just after the break to give his side the edge by virtue of their away goal. But Gokhan Inler's goal was a dagger to Chelsea hearts as it meant the Blues needed to score twice to go through.
Lampard converted a penalty but both sides were level after 90 minutes, and extra time commenced. In a pulsating and open game filled with chances, an unlikely hero in the form of Branislav Ivanovic rifled home the winner to prompt euphoric celebrations.
This win gave belief to the players and interim manager Roberto Di Matteo to carry on and they achieved great things that season.
#2 Barcelona 2-2 Chelsea (Semi-final 2nd leg, 2011-12)
Chelsea held a slender 1-0 advantage going into this tie. But the aura of the Camp Nou and Pep Guardiola's brilliant team meant that the job was far from done.
Barcelona dominated possession and the game from the first minute and Sergio Busquets slotted home to level the tie. Chelsea's night worsened as Gary Cahill limped off and their skipper Terry was sent off for elbowing Alexis Sanchez. Soon after that, Iniesta scored and a rout looked on cards for the 10-men Blues.
However, Ramires sumptuously chipped Victor Valdes to give his side a foothold in the game. That unexpected goal had put Chelsea ahead by the away goal rule. But the Catalans had 45 minutes to test the Chelsea goal and knock them out.
The chances came, and they did not stop. But Chelsea repelled everything, almost as if Terry's departure had added more steel. Ivanovic blocked Iniesta heroically. Sanchez missed a sitter. Messi struck the bar with a penalty. Sanchez had a goal ruled out for offside. Cech pulled off a blinder of a save from Messi. But Chelsea did not wilt under the mounting pressure. They repelled and repelled until...
...until from nowhere Fernando Torres was set free on goal and he completed the unthinkable (Gary Neville did the unbearable).
Chelsea, devoid of their two centre-backs and playing with 10 men, with less than 25% possession had defeated the unrivalled greatest team then, European champions Barcelona in their backyard to book a place in the Champions League final. Some night.
#1 Bayern Munich 1-1 Chelsea (Chelsea win 3-4 on penalties), Final, 2011-12
It had to be this match, right?
Chelsea had reached the final against all odds, securing wins over Napoli and Barcelona against all odds. They had to climb one last hurdle. It was a big one.
Allianz Arena was declared as a neutral venue for the final for academic purposes, but it was Bayern's home on the night in all other aspects. Those 11 players and the tiny pool of Chelsea fans were overshadowed by the vast sea of red Bavarian support.
The game followed a predictable pattern, as Bayern probed to breach the Chelsea defence. Chances came, but poor finishing and some heroic defending kept the scoresheet blank.
This changed in the 83rd minute, as Thomas Muller planted an unorthodox header past Petr Cech to evoke celebrations. It seemed as if Chelsea's road to glory had come to an end.
However, Didier Drogba had other ideas. In the dying embers of the 90 minutes, he powered a bullet header past Manuel Neuer. For the umpteenth time in their European campaign, Chelsea simply refused to lose.
Extra time saw more of the same as Bayern were awarded a penalty. Arjen Robben stepped up, only to see his effort gobbled up by Cech. Bayern created a slew of chances but failed to break the deadlock.
A penalty shootout was needed, and Bayern went 2-0 up. However, Olic and Schweinsteiger's misses gave Drogba chance to win it.
Neuer went to his left, and Drogba coolly slotted it the other side. Unbridled joy gushed out from the players and fans alike as Chelsea clinched their first Champions League crown. Certainly, a night to remember.
