Football enthusiasts around the world remember the year 2012 for many reasons. One of the most notable events that took place was the defeat of Barcelona, one of the greatest football clubs in history.
But the question arises, who beat Barcelona in 2012? In this article, we’ll delve into the details and find out.
The Background
Barcelona had been dominating European football for some time. They had won numerous domestic and international trophies, including two UEFA Champions Leagues in three years. They were considered unbeatable by many fans and experts alike.
The Match
On April 24, 2012, Barcelona played Chelsea in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League at Camp Nou in Spain. The first leg ended in a 1-0 victory for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. So, Barcelona needed to win by two goals to progress to the final.
The match started with Barcelona dominating possession as usual. However, they couldn’t break down Chelsea’s defense as they kept defending deep and absorbing pressure. The first half ended goalless with both teams having a few chances but no clear-cut opportunities.
The Turning Point
The second half started with more of the same as Barcelona continued to dominate possession, but Chelsea held on tightly. In the 50th minute, Lionel Messi stepped up to take a penalty after Didier Drogba fouled Cesc Fabregas inside Chelsea’s box.
However, Messi’s penalty was saved by Petr Cech, and this proved to be a turning point in the game. It gave Chelsea more confidence and belief that they could hold on against Barcelona’s attacking threat.
The Winning Goal
In the 86th minute of the game, Fernando Torres came off from the bench for Chelsea and scored an incredible goal to seal their victory over Barcelona. He received a pass from Ramires and rounded Victor Valdes, Barcelona’s goalkeeper, before slotting the ball into an empty net.
The goal was a huge shock to Barcelona as they had been dominating the match up until that point. Chelsea held on for the remaining few minutes of the game to secure their place in the final.
The Aftermath
The defeat was a huge disappointment for Barcelona and their fans. It was also a shock to many football enthusiasts around the world who had considered them unbeatable. Chelsea, on the other hand, went on to win the final against Bayern Munich in their own stadium, with Didier Drogba scoring the winning penalty in a dramatic shootout.
Conclusion
So, who beat Barcelona in 2012? It was Chelsea who secured a memorable victory over one of the greatest football clubs in history. The game remains one of the most talked-about matches in modern football history and is remembered as a turning point for both teams involved.