Chelsea travel to Napoli in the Champions League this evening, with tonight’s tie just the third competitive meeting between the clubs.
The first two-legged tie took place over a decade ago and, due to a dramatic narrative, remains etched in Chelsea folklore.
Chelsea’s continental campaign appeared all but over after a humbling night at Stadio San Paolo in 2012. Ezequiel Lavezzi scored twice for the home side, with Edinson Cavani also on target, as Chelsea crashed to a 3-1 defeat in Naples.
Napoli had been well worth that first-leg win in a result that piled the pressure on Chelsea coach Andre Villas-Boas.
Chelsea had paid Porto a world record €15 million (£13.3 million) compensation to get Villas-Boas out of his contract with the Portuguese side just eight months earlier, in the belief that 34-year-old was the next coaching great.
A treble campaign at Porto the previous season had earned Villas-Boas comparisons to Jose Mourinho, but he struggled under the weight of expectation at Stamford Bridge. The defeat in Naples was followed by a league loss at West Brom that brought the end to his short-lived tenure.
Assistant manager Roberto Di Matteo stepped in as interim manager, in a sliding doors moment that would transform the club’s European story. A Didier Drogba goal secured Di Matteo a win against Stoke in his first fixture, before the visit of Napoli to West London.
On an incredible night, goals from the talismanic Drogba and John Terry put Chelsea ahead in the tie, only for Gokhan Inler to fire Napoli back in front and spark deafening noise from the travelling Neapolitan contingent.
But Chelsea’s leaders came again. Frank Lampard fired from a penalty to take the tie to extra time, where Branislav Ivanovic’s thumping effort sent Chelsea into the quarter-finals.
Comeback complete, but it was only the start of the tale. Chelsea cruised past Benfica in the last eight, before eliminating holders Barcelona in an unforgettable semi-final.
In the decider, Chelsea weathered a siege to beat Bayern Munich on their own patch, becoming London’s first Champions League winners in the process.
From chaos, to champions, kickstarted that night against Napoli.
Read – Champions League state of play: What every Premier League team needs on final day
See more – Five who played for both Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle
