On Tuesday, Barcelona face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, a stadium where they hold a particularly beautiful memory: Andres Iniesta’s late goal that sent them to the Champions League final in 2009.
Barcelona were on the verge of being eliminated from the Champions League until Iniesta’s goal, which came in stoppage time.
He ensured that Pep Guardiola’s team qualified for the final against Manchester United, whom they defeated 2–0 to complete the historic treble.
Speaking to Sport, Iniesta reflected on that memory ahead of Barcelona’s return to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
“It feels like it was yesterday, 16 years ago, but the memories are vivid. It’s impossible not to remember it — every time you see it or think about that goal, you get emotional, for the goal and for everything that happened afterwards. It was madness,” he said initially.
“It had an extraordinary importance. I don’t limit it only to that moment because many things had to happen — many situations and many matches — for us to arrive there. If we speak only about that moment, it’s incredible. On a personal level, I was the happiest man in the world, I had the chance to score that goal and make millions of people and our club happy. And then the fact that we ended up winning the Champions League and the treble. It was a period where you could cry almost every day,” he added.
Barcelona hope to give their fans similar celebrations on Tuesday when they write the next chapter at Stamford Bridge.
Hansi Flick’s side arrive to the match with high morale after a 4–0 win against Athletic Club last weekend, and their chances have increased with the news that Cole Palmer will not be available for Chelsea.
However, they will be without their star Pedri, who will not be risked in London.
