The European battles between Chelsea and Barcelona have been steeped in skulduggery since the first season they met back in 1966.
Long before either club would win their maiden Champions League crown, the pair were drawn against one another in the semifinals of the now-defunct Fairs Cup. Legend has it that Chelsea captain Ron “Chopper” Harris called upon the help of the local fire brigade to flood the pitch for the second leg at Stamford Bridge, forming a quagmire to quell Barcelona’s passing game. It worked: The Blues would force a replay with a 2–0 win.
This set the tone for the spiky subsequent meetings, which have been littered with red cards, refereeing controversies and, when the opportunity is allowed to arise, moments of great skill.






