5 jinxed fixtures in Champions League history

The Champions League is almost upon us, and there has been a lot of steam generated in recent weeks about what could happen this season as the most elite club competition gears up once again for what’s expected to be one of the best yet.Barcelona will attempt to become the first team to successfully defend their continental crown, albeit with a suspect defence, while their rivals will look to arrest them in their tracks. All across the board there will be intriguing narratives unfolding and drama developing.The groups have been decided. The players know their tasks. The managers have their objectives.All that remains to be seen now is how it will all pan out, but whatever happens it certainly promises to be hugely entertaining to say the least as some of the matches from days gone by clearly attest to.With that, let’s take a nostalgic look back at some of the fixtures which have continuously popped up down through the years.

#1 Barcelona vs Chelsea

Since the 1999/2000 season, Barcelona and Chelsea have met as many as 12 times in Europe’s elite club competition, forming a formidable rivalry in the process. A recurring fixture, it’s formed part of the fascinating fabric that the Champions League has become.

Over the years, there have been some truly memorable match-ups with both clubs experiencing their fair share of joy and despair. Often billed as a clash of one of football’s oldest establishments versus Europe’s new money men, there has never been a lack of intriguing stories to pull from whenever these two have met, often playing with skill, class and poise.

No doubt, many will remember Ronaldinho’s unique wonder-goal against the Blues at Stamford Bridge back in March, 2005 where he produced yet another moment of genius to flash the ball past Petr Cech with apparently zero back-lift, mesmerising the frozen defence as he did so. That entertaining clash ended 4-2 with Roman Abramovich’s club emerging victorious on an aggregate score-line of 5-4.

In total, there have been 36 goals scored in modern day European contests between this pair and rarely has there been a lack of drama, excitement or controversy whenever they’ve met. In their 12 meetings, though Chelsea have won four games with three in Barcelona’s favour and five draws, while both sides are evenly matched in terms of winning the tie over two legs with Barcelona matching Chelsea’s tally of progressing three times.

Will we see them cross paths once again in the 2015/16 season? Let’s hope so.