CHELSEA VS MANCHESTER UTD: TOP 5 MEETINGS

On Saturday lunchtime, Chelsea host Manchester United in a crunch clash at Stamford Bridge.

With Jose Mourinho’s former club gunning for top spot, as his current dwindles outside of the Top 7, it promises to be a mouthwatering, but massively important, spectacle.

As a result, it feels only right to take a nostalgic look at some of the best, and most iconic, contests between two of England’s heavyweights, to date.

Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea - Premier League - 18th January 2003

We start our list with a game that disguised itself as a nailed-on stalemate. Eidur Gudjohnsen gave Claudio Ranieri’s Chelsea the lead on half-hour before Carlo Cudicini’s mistake set up Paul Scholes for a tap-in only some minutes later.

With the sides neck-and-neck it made for the most dramatic of finishes as United, who were chasing the mightily impressive Arsenal to top spot, stole all three points in the dying embers of stoppage time, through Diego Forlan.

Chelsea 2-3 Manchester United - Premier League - 28th October 2012

These two giants served up a classic in 2012, a quickfire double thanks to Robin van Persie and an own-goal from the Blues’ David Luiz saw Manchester United sailing.

But, either side of half-time, the Londoners levelled the scores through current Red Devil Juan Mata and Brazilian Ramires, respectively.

This was before full-back Branislav Ivanovic and Fernando Torres, who notoriously underwhelmed supporters in his time at the Bridge, were shown their marching orders and United secured the spoils through Javier Hernandez.

Source: Pinterest

Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea - Champions League Final - 22nd May 2008

In arguably the most prestigious tie between the two, the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final certainly delivered.

In his final game for Manchester United before his, then, world-record move to Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo gave the Red Devils the lead on 26 minutes, before Frank Lampard was on-hand to even the contest before the break.

With both sides going blow-for-blow but cancelled out, helpfully through the defensive exploits of John Terry in the added thirty, it was up to five shots each from twelve-yards to decide the fate of Europe’s elite.

With Ronaldo’s penalty saved, it was Terry’s infamous slip before Nicolas Anelka’s lacklustre effort that saw United snatch silverware from the jaws of heartache.

Chelsea 5-4 Manchester United - League Cup Quarter Final - 31st October 2012

As little as three days on from their Premier League slobberknocker, the Blues hosted a second-string United in SW6 again, yet found themselves 2-1 down at the break.

The home side forced extra-time after mounting a second-half fightback, although only completed through a 94th minute penalty from, then 21-year-old Eden Hazard.

Double delight in extra-time through Daniel Sturridge and Ramires saw Chelsea into the Semi-Final, a late penalty from Ryan Giggs unable to turn the tide.

Chelsea 5-0 Manchester United - Premier League - 3rd October 1999

Unremarkably, treble-winning Manchester United travelled to Stamford Bridge with high hopes before the Blues sunk them into most unexpected pit of despair imaginable.

Gus Poyet opened the scoring in a matter of seconds before Chris Sutton sent shockwaves through United territory, some fifteen minutes later.

Poyet’s second, Henning Berg’s own goal and substitute Jody Morris’ late strike compiled stunning misery upon the Red faithful.

Source: Sky Sports