Chelsea-Barcelona: The greatest Champions League robbery in history?

Chelsea welcomed Barcelona to Stamford Bridge on the evening of May 6th, 2009 in what was set to be a heavyweight battled between two of Europe's best to decide a place in the Champions League final. A 0-0 draw and the Nou Camp set up the return leg to be one of the most controversial games in Champions League history.

Lining up for Barca is one of the greatest club teams ever assembled. With players such as Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o, Sergio Busquets, Xavi and Andres Iniesta managed by Pep Guardiola enter the match as heavy favourites.

On the Chelsea side, Guus Hiddink has prepared an ambitious XI with an attack led by Drogba, Anelka, Malouda and a formidable midfield of  Ballack, Lampard and Essien.

After a goalless first leg, everyone expects a football festival that night. Fireworks will start in the 9th minute when Michael Essien will light the first fuse, with an exceptional volley.

The Spaniards are stunned and, in the 24th minute, Florent Malouda escapes on his left side and Daniel Alves commits a foul in the penalty area.

Everyone in the stadium believes this to be a penalty – everyone except referee Tom Henning Ovrebo. The Norwegian whistles the foul, but believes it is outside the box and awards a free kick for Chelsea which does not come to anything. The first contentious situation of the important match. 

Two minutes later, it was Didier Drogba who went deep. In the duel in the area with Eric Abidal, the Ivorian collapses but, once again, the referee does not whistle for a penalty when the fault was there. A second contentious moment in the space of two minutes.

At half-time, the two teams head into the Stamford Bridge dressing rooms. Despite the score, nobody has forgotten Henning Ovrebo's questionable decisions. The tension, like the stake, is maximum.

In the 56th minute, Didier Drogba (again) infiltrates the Barça box. In an action similar to that of the 26ᵉ minute, he falls in the duel against Yaya Touré. Unlike the first two situations, the foul is less obvious.

The stadium is furious, as is Drogba, who cannot believe it. Chelsea was still leading 1-0 when, in the 66th minute, Nicolas Anelka was knocked off balance by Eric Abidal as he charged for a goal.

The referee shows a red card against the French defender. A controversial decision, but one that seems right. This is the first favorable decision for Chelsea. Barça are down to 10 men and a goal behind.

In the 74th minute, Michael Essien catches his boot on Andres Iniesta's calf. The referee decides to warn the Ghanaian with a yellow card.

Five minutes later, Anelka who arrives in the area and is grabbed by the arm by Yaya Touré. A gross fault but, once again, the referee does not whistle a penalty. Stamford Bridge explodes.

But, among all these decisions, the most scandalous comes at the 82ᵉ minute. Tom Henning Ovrebo then no longer has any control over the match, he is totally lost when Anelka arrives in the box.

With a touch, he avoids Gérard Piqué who smashes the ball with his hand. This is perhaps the most obvious penalty yet. The whole stadium has seen it, the whole world has seen it… but not the referee. The stadium is in an uproar and the spectators do not believe their eyes.

As Chelsea heads to a Champions League final against Manchester United without conceding a shot on target, the unthinkable happens. Set up by Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta catapults the ball with a magic shot into the top corner of Petr Cech. In the 93rd minute, Barça are qualified for the next berth.

But in this game, nothing is ever over. On the last action of the match, Ballack sends a shot that is blocked by the arm of Samuel Eto'o. It was then that the referee turned away from the scene, but was pursued by Chelsea players more angry than ever.

Tom Henning Ovrebo whistles the end of the match on the following action and the stadium is set ablaze. It was then that Didier Drogba addressed the cameras as he left the stadium and uttered these words, which have become legendary: “It's a fu****** disgrace”.