With Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester United set to clash in an intriguing Premier League contest at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon, we take a look back at five of the most thrilling encounters between these two great enemies from down the years.
Chelsea 5-0 Manchester United – Premier League, October 3 1999
Few neutrals saw this result coming, especially as the then Premier League and European champions were on a long unbeaten run stretching back to the previous December, lasting 29 games, during which time Sir Alex Ferguson’s men had gone on to win a record-breaking Treble.
The home side made an electric start when Uruguay midfielder Gus Poyet opened the scoring after only 27 seconds at Stamford Bridge, and thereafter the goals just continued coming.
England international Chris Sutton then got his first-ever goal for his new team following his recent £10m move from Glasgow Celtic and when that strike was swiftly followed by Nicky Butt’s dismissal just before the break, there was only ever going to be one winner.
And further goals after the break from Poyet again, a Henning Berg own goal and Jody Morris rounded off what was an unforgettable afternoon for fans of the west London club.
Manchester United 3-3 Chelsea – Premier League, September 23, 2000:
This was new Blues boss Claudio Ranieri’s first-ever game in charge of the club following the sacking of Gianluca Vialli at the start of that month, and what a venue to begin your managerial career in England at for the popular Italian.
However, despite the west Londoners languishing down in an unfamiliar 17th place in the Premier League at the time, it was the visitors who actually took an early lead through Netherlands international Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s piledriver, only for the champions to then respond in kind with quick-fire strikes themselves before half-time from Paul Scholes, Teddy Sheringham and David Beckham.
And yet Chelsea just would not roll over and die, scoring twice either side of the break through Norway forward Tore Andre Flo to earn a share of the spoils in this six-goal thriller at the Theatre of Dreams.
Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea (United win 6-5 on penalties) – Champions League final, May 21, 2008:
A match that had everything, as befits the final of Europe’s premier club competition, with goals, fights, red cards, extra time and then of course the inevitable drama of a penalty shootout to cap the evening off.
United took the lead when who else but Cristiano Ronaldo rose highest at the far post to head Wes Brown’s centre past Petr Cech, only for the evergreen Frank Lampard to level matters up at the break.
But despite Chelsea dominating after the break, the match then went into 30 minute of extra time, with the only noteworthy incident being Didier Drogba’s dismissal after the Ivorian had slapped Nemanja Vidic.
And yet there was still more drama to come in the shootout as first Ronaldo saw his effort saved by Cech, only for Blues skipper John Terry to then slip as he attempted to win the trophy with the final spot kick, meaning sudden death.
However, after Nicolas Anelka was then denied by Edwin van der Sar, it was United who were crowned kings of Europe for the third time.
Chelsea 3-3 Manchester United – Premier League, February 5 2012:
Talk about a see-saw encounter, with the home team taking a 3-0 lead early in the second period, before the then champions stormed back into proceedings by themselves betting three times in quick succession in response.
Amazingly, the scoreline was just 1-0 to the Blues at half-time thanks to Jonny Evan’s own goal, before a brilliant Juan Mata volley and a David Luiz header appeared to have ended the match as a contest just after the interval.
But United being United just would not roll over and die, although the visitors were still reliant on referee Howard Webb awarding them two contentious spot kicks that striker Wayne Rooney had no problems converting, before substitute Javier Hernandez capped off a remarkable match by heading home a late equaliser in this epic six-goal thriller.
Chelsea 5-4 Manchester United – Capital One Cup, October 31, 2012:
A breathtaking Capital One Cup clash at Stamford Bridge that swung one way then the next, before it was the west Londoners who emerged victorious.
Veteran Welshman Ryan Giggs gave the Red Devils an early lead, before a David Luiz penalty drew the home team level, although it was the visitors who went into the break in the lead thanks to Javier Hernandez’s cool finish.
However, the scoring did not stop there as centre-back Gary Cahill blasted the Blues level, only for Luis Nani to once put United back in front with a neat chip, only for Chelsea to then take the tie into extra time with a last-minute penalty from Eden Hazard.
And it was the hosts who then took control of proceedings, netting twice through Daniel Sturridge and Ramires, with Giggs’s late strike a mere consolation for United.