Top 5 UEFA Champions League encounters between Chelsea and Barcelona

UEFA Champions League & UEFA Cup Draw
UEFA Champions League

#1 Champions League Semi Final 2nd Leg 2008-09 (Stamford Bridge)

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Chelsea v Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Semi Final
The match was one of the most controversial matches ever

Perhaps the most famous and certainly the most controversial encounter between these two sides, the second leg semi final of the 2008/09 season was finely poised with the first leg ending 0-0.

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Michael Essien gave Chelsea the lead with a screamer of a volley from outside the box. Controversy started when Florent Malouda was fouled just inside the box but the referee gave a free kick to Chelsea just outside the box. Further fouls on Drogba inside the penalty box were ignored and Eric Abidal saw red for fouling Anelka when he was through on goal.

The controversy intensified when Pique blatantly handled the ball inside his own penalty box but again, no penalty was given. The game turned on its head when Iniesta scored a sweet volley from the edge of the box and Barcelona got the away goal they desperately needed. Another handball inside the Barcelona penalty box was ignored by the referee and Barcelona held on to win the tie 1-1 on aggregate via away goals.

However, the controversy did not end there with Chelsea players clearly angry at full time. It was a truly remarkable match, with two amazing goals but sadly, it is and will be remembered more for the controversial decisions.

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Edited by Harsh Manwani
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