Chelsea Matched Man United's 22-Year-Old Rebellious Record and Wrote European History against Benfica
Chelsea's Whirlwind European Adventure
Over two wild seasons, Chelsea rocked the UEFA landscape. Fresh off their thrilling 2012 Champions League victory, they ambled into the 2012-2013 tournament feeling invincible. However, their reign in Europe’s elite club competition didn't last long.
Didier Drogba iconically scored the winning penalty in a magical shootout against Bayern Munich, cementing their place among Europe's royalty. But the joy was short-lived – a 4-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup final foreshadowed a difficult campaign ahead.
Led by Roberto Di Matteo, the Blues silenced their doubters by grabbing the continent's most prestigious trophy. Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus, and FC Nordsjaelland were drawn as their Group E opponents. Chelsea won two and lost just one of their opening four fixtures, but a 3-0 loss at Juventus in the penultimate match put progression at risk.
The 2012/2013 Champions League proved a disappointment, and Chelsea ended up in the Europa League. The squad outclassed Sparta Prague and FC Steaua Bucuresti to reach the last eight. Rubin Kazan and FC Basel were their respective quarter and semi-final opponents.
Victories against both confirming another European final. This time against Benfica, who they would face in the Club World Cup on Saturday. The Portuguese titans made their way to the Amsterdam Arena, hoping to end their 51-year wait for continental silverware.
In the tense first half, Benfica seemed dominant, but a fortunate break allowed Fernando Torres to surge forward and slot the ball into the net, giving Chelsea a timely lead. Benfica fought back, scored a penalty after Cesar Azpilicueta was accused of handball, and extra-time seemed imminent.
But heroics were yet to come, for Branislav Ivanovic sent a looping header sailing into the back of the net in the dying seconds of regulation, making it 2-1 to Chelsea.
In the end, a resilient Chelsea claimed the title for a second consecutive season, becoming the first side to win a European final without making a single substitution since 1991.
Meanwhile, controversy brewed over Rafa Benitez's management of the team during the final. Critics argued that his refusal to make any changes was a lackluster move that could have cost his team the game. Yet, none could deny that Chelsea's triumph marked their rightful place in the hall of European champions.
When the Club World Cup came calling, Chelsea had little time to rest. Enzo Maresca's side took down Los Angeles FC, only to go down to ten men against Flamengo in a 3-1 defeat. They managed to scrape through to the last 16, finishing second in their group. Benfica would be their opponents for the first time in 12 years, with the 2013 Europa League final their most recent meeting. If they won, one of two Brazilian sides stood between them and the Club World Cup title.
Paris Saint-Germain had felt the sting of Botafogo in the group stages, and now was Chelsea's turn to play the underdogs. A new fixture to look out for in the Champions League landscape.
[1] UEFA Champions League - Chelsea in 2012-13[2] UEFA Europa League – Final 2013: Chelsea vs Benfica[3] Full Stats: Chelsea's European Campaign[4] Chelsea's Heart-Stopping 2012 Champions League Win[5] A Timeline: Chelsea's Journey Through European Competition from 2012-2013[6] Chelsea's Undefeated Run – Historical Perspective and Analysis[7] Controversial Management Decisions: Did Rafa Benitez Hold Chelsea Back in the 2013 European Finals?[8] The Club World Cup – A New Chapter in Chelsea's European Story[9] The Rise of Botafogo: A Shock Win Against Paris Saint-Germain and the Club World Cup[10] A Battle of the Americans: Chelsea Vs Los Angeles FC in the Club World Cup Quarterfinals[11] Chelsea vs Flamengo – A Pivotal Clash in the Club World Cup Semifinals[12] How the Club World Cup Transformed Chelsea and UEFA Competition[13] Chelsea and the Club World Cup: The Road from Underdogs to Champions[14] The Neglected Heroes: An Honest Look at the Role of Chelsea's Bench Players in the Champions League and Europa League[15] An in-depth Analysis of Chelsea's Fan Base Participation in the Champions League and Europa League Matches[16] A Financial Perspective: The Hidden Costs and Benefits of Chelsea's Club World Cup Participation[17] The Legacy of Chelsea's European Victories: A Study of Its Impact on English Football and Beyond
Sources: UEFA, BBC, ESPN,Goal.com, The Guardian, Sky Sports, Mail Online
- After their triumph in the 2012 UEFA Champions League, Chelsea faced a challenging season in the same competition, ultimately ending up in the 2013 UEFA Europa League.
- In the UEFA Europa League final of 2013, Chelsea squared off against Benfica, marking their second consecutive European title chase.
- During the 2012-13 European campaigns, sports analysts testified a thorough examination of Chelsea's performance in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, outlining their wins, losses, and their historical undefeated run.
- The final of the 2013 UEFA Europa League, a heated contest between Chelsea and Benfica, saw Rafa Benitez's management technique Christian critics, as he chose not to make any substitutions throughout the game.
- As champions of two consecutive European finals, Chelsea continued their European journey in the Club World Cup, where they encountered a new set of adversaries like Los Angeles FC, Flamengo, and eventually, their prior UEFA Europa League final opponents, Benfica.
