Tuesday night sees the latest instalment of a great Champions League rivalry. Chelsea fan Callum West writes for Sportsmail on his favourite memories watching his side take on Barcelona.
Barcelona is a fixture that inspires trepidation in most, but it is one that has provided Chelsea fans with some of our best memories of the last twenty years.
The last time we faced them is easily the most famous. Fernando Torres rounding Victor Valdes in injury time, Roberto Di Matteo and Eddie Newton sprinting up the touch line in celebration and the pandemonium that ensued both in the away end of the Nou Camp and across – it’s a night that will live long in the memory.
Chelsea’s last meeting with Barcelona was one of the club’s most famous victories
![John Terry received a red card in a disastrous first half for Chelsea at the Nou Camp](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/02/20/12/12BFFAD9000005DC-5412679-image-m-51_1519130026297.jpg)
![Fernando Torres provided one of the most memorable moments after rounding Victor Valdes to score an equaliser in injury time](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/02/20/12/12C082D0000005DC-5412679-image-m-49_1519130013437.jpg)
John Terry saw red before Fernando Torres round Victor Valdes to score in injury time
We’d travelled from Stansted to Spain more in hope than expectation after a valiant victory at home had given us a 1-0 lead to take over there, although it was still an uphill task. With John Terry sent off and Barcelona 2-0 up, it looked like a mountain.
Ramires’ chip gave us slight hope but when Torres scored I’ve never experienced celebrations like it. It was one of those rare moments that makes the miles put in on mid-week away trips to Sunderland all worth it.
It’s also a fixture that seems to get under the skin of the Barcelona players. Lionel Messi famously said of Chelsea: ‘We would rather play Arsenal, Manchester United or anyone else than be on the pitch with Chelsea.’
![Chelsea won the first leg of their semi-final match at Stamford Bridge in April 2012](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/02/20/11/283BFBCD00000578-5412679-image-a-32_1519127666178.jpg)
Chelsea won the first leg of their semi-final match at Stamford Bridge in April 2012
![Chelsea fans celebrate in a pub after Didier Drogba's goal on half time sealed a 1-0 victory](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/02/20/12/12C08400000005DC-5412679-image-a-46_1519129992562.jpg)
Chelsea fans celebrate in a pub after Didier Drogba’s goal on half time sealed a 1-0 victory
![Blues manager Roberto Di Matteo went on to lift the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/02/20/11/2202B85700000578-5412679-image-a-33_1519127669709.jpg)
Blues manager Roberto Di Matteo went on to lift the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012
They’ve been beaten, bruised and bewildered by Drogba, chipped by Ramires and seen Lampard grab a last ditch equaliser from an impossible angle, and never tasted victory over the boys in blue with even numbers on the pitch.
Last time we faced them it forced we got under their manager’s skin to such an extent it forced Guardiola to take a sabbatical.
Chelsea have played Barcelona 12 times since the turn of the millennium, winning a third of the fixtures and drawing a further 5. Despite the last minute heart ache of 2009, Barcelona haven’t beaten Chelsea in 7 matches, stretching back to 2006.
Perhaps the highlight of Chelsea’s maiden season in the European Cup, 45 years after we became the first English club to qualify for it, was the first meeting between the sides since 1966.
![Another famous semi-final match between the two sides happened at Stamford Bridge in 2009](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/02/20/11/04D59B47000005DC-5412679-image-a-34_1519127684758.jpg)
Another famous semi-final match between the two sides happened at Stamford Bridge in 2009
![Eric Abidal was sent off before Andres Iniesta scored a dramatic equaliser in the 90th minute](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/02/20/11/04D5AE37000005DC-5412679-image-a-35_1519127698302.jpg)
Eric Abidal was sent off before Andres Iniesta scored a dramatic equaliser in the 90th minute
![The game was marred by controversy after Chelsea were denied four penalty shouts](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/02/20/11/04D5AE8C000005DC-5412679-image-a-36_1519127703028.jpg)
The game was marred by controversy after Chelsea were denied four penalty shouts
As a 12-year old I stood on my seat in the uncovered West Stand for 90 minutes to witness a 3-1 victory over the reigning Spanish Champions at a rocking Stamford Bridge.
A brace from Tore Andre Flo and a trademark Gianfranco Zola free kick saw the Blues race into a 3-0 first half lead at Stamford Bridge.
While ten-men Chelsea ultimately succumbed to an extra time defeat in the second leg at the Nou Camp it was a performance which proved we deserved to mix it at this level.
Sandwiched between the two was another hugely famous European night at the Bridge in 2005.
Under Jose Mourinho, Chelsea aped the performance of 2000 by rushing into an early three goal lead, erasing a 2-1 deficit.
Barcelona brought it back to 4-4 on aggregate with a Ronaldinho scoring a penalty, followed by his barely-believable ‘toe-poke’ strike. John Terry headed in late on to seal Chelsea’s passage into the next round and sent those of us in the Matthew Harding Lower delirious.
For Chelsea to win tonight and advance in the tie we’ll need a performance that at least matches these.
We’ll need to get under their skin again.
![Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi has failed to score against Chelsea in eight meetings](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/02/20/11/04B74B0C000005DC-5412679-image-a-38_1519127730337.jpg)
Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi has failed to score against Chelsea in eight meetings
We’ll need the will to win of Didier Drogba, the skill of Zola, the persistence of Frank Lampard and Terry’s never say die attitude.
We’ll need to ride our luck like in 2012 and when our chance comes be in the right place at the right time, like Torres.
From Brugge in 1995 to Napoli in 2012, Europe has brought out the best of Chelsea fans and we’ll need Stamford Bridge to be bouncing like it was in 2000, 2005 and 2012. The players will also have to show the same passion.
To progress against arguably the best side in Europe will undoubtedly be a tough ask but we’ve done it before and as Eden Hazard said in December ahead of the draw: ‘We are Chelsea. We can face any team.’