TelegraphChelsea may have lost their first leg in Paris 2-1, but the Blues will know everything is to play for come Wednesday night.
Why? Well it’s simply because the west London club are no strangers to massive European comebacks – in fact, they’ve made more of them than most.
From Fernando Torres securing an unlikely win at the Camp Nou to send the club to Munich in 2012, to all the way back in 2004/05 against the aforementioned Barcelona, Chelsea are never out of contention – no matter how bleak things seem.
That’s something PSG know only too well, and with that in mind, we thought it was only right to do a rundown of the Blues’ greatest ever European comebacks.
Mirror5. Chelsea 4-1 Napoli, (14 March, 2012)
After qualifying from their Champions League group comfortably, Chelsea were drawn against Napoli.
The first leg was disastrous, as the doomed Andre Villas Boas watched on as his side crumbled to a 3-1 defeat in a hostile Stadio San Paolo.
Roman Abramovich sacked the former Porto boss – something that’s become almost a pastime lately, and installed Roberto Di Matteo as manager, tasking him with saving Chelsea’s season.
Save it, he did.
Didier Drogba and John Terry scored to give the Blues hope at Stamford Bridge, but Marek Hamsik pulled one back for the home side to almost kill Chelsea off.
Up stepped Frank Lampard though, netting a penalty to force extra time, where Branislav Ivanovic rifled in Drogba’s cross to send Chelsea through.
Telegraph4. Chelsea 3-2 Liverpool (30 April, 2008)
Chelsea gained revenge on Liverpool’s controversial victory over them in 2005, to set up an all-English final three years later.
With Premier League teams dominating the Champions League, perhaps it was fitting that one of its greatest ever players was central to the most memorable moment from the clash.
Frank Lampard’s penalty was a tear jerker, as it was just six days after the death of his mother, Pat.
Lampard netted the spot kick to put the Blues in front in extra time, before kissing the black armband and pointing to the sky – one of the most emotional moments in Chelsea history.
Soccernews3. Chelsea 2-0 PSG (8 April, 2014)
Heading into the second leg at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea had it all to do against the French champions.
3-1 down from the first meeting, the Blues had to win by two goals to go through to the semi final, and when Eden Hazard limped off injured in the first half, it looked a step too far.
But Jose Mourinho’s substitutions came up trumps, as Andre Schurrle scored in the first half before Chelsea laid siege to PSG’s goal.
Oscar and Schurrle hit the bar as time ran out, but Demba Ba finally scrambled in a late goal and sent Stamford Bridge into raptures.
Chelsea will have to produce something similar to down Laurent Blanc’s side this year.
2. Chelsea 4-2 Barcelona (8th March 2005)
Some Chelsea fans still hold this as their best ever European night.
The Blues had seen their side reduced to ten men in the first leg at the Camp Nou (setting a bit of a precedent for their encounters with the Cules) and had to create something magical at Stamford Bridge to go through.
Create it they did, with three sublime goals and some attacking play that their opponents would have been proud of.
All was going well until Ronaldinho decided to be, well Ronaldinho, and produce some magic to cause a massive problem for Chelsea.
What were the Blues to do? Call on their Captain, Leader, Legend of course.
JT sent them through 5-4 on aggregate with a stunning header, and the Blues showed world football they were the real deal.
Bleacher Report1. Bayern Munich 1-1 Chelsea (Chelsea win on penalties, 19 May, 2012)
How could anything else top this list?
Beating one of Europe’s most successful clubs on their own patch, without John Terry, on penalties, in the Champions League final, is the ultimate triumph.
It all looked like it was going to end in tears in the final stages, as Thomas Muller struck in the 83rd minute to give the Germans the lead.
But Didier Drogba stepped up and powered in a header to send the game to extra time and eventually penalties, where the favourites crumbled.
Juan Mata missed, before Philipp Lahm, Mario Gomez and even Manuel Neuer scored, leaving the Blues on the brink of defeat.
But Ivica Olic and Bastian Schweinsteiger fluffed their lines, allowing Drogba to sign off his Chelsea career in the perfect way.
Written. In. The. Stars.
