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On February twenty second, 2006, Barcelona and Chelsea met within the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
It was a massively entertaining sport below the lights at Stamford Bridge, one which noticed Frank Rjikaard’s Barcelona safe a well-known 2-1 victory.
An personal purpose from John Terry and a late strike from Samuel Eto’o sealed the win in a match that noticed Chelsea’s Spanish left-back Asier Del Horno despatched off for a horrendous sort out within the first half.
His sufferer? An 18-year-old Lionel Messi, who tormented Jose Mourinho’s star-studded Blues aspect 16 years in the past to the day.
It was the Argentine’s first look on English soil within the colors of Barcelona and he dropped an absolute masterclass on a really muddy pitch in west London.
Chelsea gamers tried to tough him up, however Messi was too fast, skilful and courageous, shaking off a lot of poorly-timed tackles.
You’ll be able to take a look at his particular person highlights from the sport under.
Messi vs Chelsea in 2006
Think about pondering Messi would have struggled on a moist and windy evening versus Stoke Metropolis…
Earlier than his first massive efficiency on the European stage, Messi spoke about Barcelona‘s rivalry with Chelsea and revealed that some gamers within the squad hated Mourinho’s aspect greater than Actual Madrid.
“There are gamers right here who hate Chelsea greater than Actual Madrid,” the Argentine advised the Information of the World, per Sky Sports.
“I by no means thought I might hear myself say that. I additionally by no means thought I might see one thing worse than the Boca and River Plate rivalry or Brazil v Argentina – however that is.
“We might slightly play Arsenal, Manchester United or anybody else than be on the pitch with Chelsea.”
They actually did not like one another and Barcelona gamers will surely have been ecstatic after they eradicated Chelsea from the 2005/06 Champions League.
Mourinho’s aspect might solely obtain a 1-1 draw at Camp Nou after dropping the primary leg, the Spanish giants securing development to the quarter-final stage on mixture.
Barcelona went on to win the entire competitors, the primary of Messi’s 4 Champions League titles.
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