You have to go back to 1997 – and the goalscorers will evoke memories among supporters.
Chelsea need to overturn a 3-1 deficit against Napoli tonight- but the task couldn’t be tougher.
The club have never beaten an Italian side in the Champions League by two clear goals at Stamford Bridge.
The last time they beat an Italian side by two clear goals full stop was an away fixture in November 2003, a 4-0 win in Lazio with goals from Hernan Crespo, Damien Duff, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Frank Lampard.
In the home game, they beat Lazio 2-1, with goals from Lampard and Adrian Mutu, but such a scoreline would not be enough tonight.
Other close calls include 1-0 wins over Roma and Juventus in recent seasons, but never have they reached a two goal win.
Losses against Serie A side include a 3-1 defeat away to Roma, and a 2-1 loss away to Jose Mourinho’s Inter in 2010, who also beat them 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.
So when have Chelsea beaten an Italian side by two goals in Europe at the Bridge?
You have to go all the way back to April 1997 and the now defunct European Cup Winners Cup semi-final.
Chelsea were up against Italian minnows Vicenza, and had gone down 1-0 in the first leg.
They won 3-1 in the second leg- enough to take them through. The scorers? Gus Poyet, Gianfranco Zola, and Mark Hughes.
The win took them to the final, where they won the cup, a Gianfranco Zola goal giving them a 1-0 win over Stuttgart.
A 3-1 win tonight would give them the two goal margin required, but it would mean extra-time and a shoot-out.
If it happens, they better hope John Terry has been practising his penalty kicks.
Do you remember the game? Do you think Chelsea can do it tonight?
image: © aromano
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