Barcelona are set to face Chelsea away in the fifth round of the Champions League group stage. Ahead of the fixture, Andrés Iniesta spoke to the Daily Sports News, reflecting on the second leg of the 2009 Champions League semi-final against Chelsea.
In the second leg of the Champions League semi-final on 6 May 2009, your 92nd-minute goal helped Pep Guardiola's Barcelona reach the final.
"It feels like yesterday, yet 16 years have passed and the memory remains vivid. Every time I see or think about that goal, I feel the excitement, because that goal and everything that followed was sheer madness."
"The significance of that goal was extraordinary. I don't view it merely as a single moment, because so much had been built up to that point – so many experiences, so many matches. Just looking at that instant, on a personal level, I was the happiest man in the world."
"Because I had the opportunity to score that goal, bringing joy to millions of fans and our club. Then we went on to win the Champions League and the treble – it was a period where I could have cried almost every day."
"Thinking back to the final, there was always the business of tickets and people wanting to come, and all sorts of commitments. I remember we'd spoken beforehand, and I told Bojan, 'If I score, you've got to get me two tickets for the final.' I can't recall if he was the first or second person to come running over to me, but I told him straight away. It was absolutely mad."
Naokmptuz
0
When you see a man without integrity and character, you will know them by the memory they keep....if the only moment that you remember in life as a football player is of a robbery incident that you benefitted but celebrated....then you lack integrity, character and honesty because Talent is one thing, sterling character is another
Ykigozi
0
I hope you also remember tores's equalizer at campu nuo
Rmulbah1992
0
What about the wrong decisions and robbery in the build up to that goal in the match
decisions in the game doesn't in any ways affect the significance of the goal.
Naokmptuz
0
THAT GOAL WAS ONE OF THE BEST GOALS IN THE HISTORY OF BAECA, THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AND IN THE LIFE OF INIESTA AS A PLAYER.
What about the wrong decisions and robbery in the build up to that goal in the match
yedceirty
0
They just have to know that if chelsea wasn't robbed, they would have won that champions league without doubt. I just want you to look at how the referee refused our clear penalty.
Desciklnot
0
The game that made Chelsea funs hate Barcelona. The game was given not won, even just by watching highlights you can tell.
Barcelona would have finished them off in the first leg like 6-0 if not for referee
DhJ99
0
At least everyone knows what happened 🥲 now they accuse other
ArmaniK
0
Ref look away Henry penalty in first leg…. Chelsea continue crying
Wrong Offside call on Eto'o clear scoring opportunity. Michael Ballack should have been sent off on multiple occasions but no second yellow was given on 3 different occasions. Ballack's hand ball in the penalty box. I mean, we can go on and on and the list will not end. They call it robberies when it doesn't favour them, but look away when it favours them. All I can say is, the officials for both legs were terrible, and Barcelona were the better team by the way. On no occasion was Chelsea close to that 2009 team and they also displayed in to the whole in the finals against Manchester United who had robbed them a season before. Football never lies, it was meant to be and indeed it became.
Wembcilsu
0
All haters doom to hell
ninceimnp
0
I think iniesta the midfielder general should go to the internet and search up the biggest robbery in football history and see what will come up 🤣🤣 from that day till now and forever I’ll hate Barcelona as a football club and I put them as the most corrupt football club behind their masters Real Madrid 😂😂
Iniesta doesn't need to search anything on the internet. It is you who need to search, thank God you have a phone and internet. Go back to the 1st leg and see what happened. But before you do, lemme give you a highlight of what happened in the 1st leg. 2 clean penalties for foul against Henry and Iniesta was intentionally overlooked. A straight red card for Ballack for fouling Alves was also denied. That Lampard red card tackle against Iniesta was also not awarded. Eto'o's 1 on 1 with the keeper was called as offside which was not. Even in the 2nd leg, Barca was denied another pk for Ballack's handball. Abidal's red card against Anelka was also a wrong decision because Drogba made a foul before passing the ball to Anelka whi was offside and after that, Anelka dived and Abidal got a red card.. My thoughts on this game is, the 1st and 2nd leg refs were just bad. Ballack was not suppose to play the 2nd leg. He was supposed to be on red card. And If Barca had lost the game, they would've done the same thing that Chelsea and their fans are currently doing. Because the refs made a lot of wrong calls against Barca too... So Mr. man, this game was fair. Chelsea robbed Barcelona in the 1st leg and Barcelona robbed it back in the 2nd leg. It is just too painful for Chelsea because Karma hits hard. In the end, Barca were champions that year.
Quincy101
1
I see so many people crying. It's obvious many of you didn't watch the first leg of the knockout stage. If the officials were fair to Barcelona, the tie would have ended in the first leg. The officials were bad in both legs. First leg favoured Chelsea and the second leg favoured Barcelona but y'all still crying like the first leg never happened. In 2008 Manchester United robbed Barcelona, a penalty for a hand ball on Paul Scholes wasn't given and Scholes eventually scored the winning goal to see United through to the finals, you don't see Barcelona fans crying about it, we took the L and went on. Mind you Paul Scholes admitted recently in an interview that he was lucky not to be sent off and that it was a hand ball. So I urge you Chelsea fans to go and watch the first leg and see who was actually robbed.
Ref look away Henry penalty in first leg…. Chelsea continue crying
Zucdeimou
0
That was the match that made me to Barca. They cheated their way in that match. I'm a ManU fan.
and your team 🤣 was beaten mercilessly by same players.
ArmaniK
0
His saying the truth … just go and watch first leg…. All Chelsea fans , Barca play 10 against 11 that second leg you’re still crying that they robbed you… abidal red card didn’t worth it
Don't mind him, let him keep crying. They couldn't live with their failure even with an early red card. Before Abidal was sent off unjustly, Drogba had already committed a foul on Pique, the Ref overlooked the incident only to award a straight red card to Abidal for no contact action on Anelka.
Quincy101
1
I see so many people crying. It's obvious many of you didn't watch the first leg of the knockout stage. If the officials were fair to Barcelona, the tie would have ended in the first leg. The officials were bad in both legs. First leg favoured Chelsea and the second leg favoured Barcelona but y'all still crying like the first leg never happened. In 2008 Manchester United robbed Barcelona, a penalty for a hand ball on Paul Scholes wasn't given and Scholes eventually scored the winning goal to see United through to the finals, you don't see Barcelona fans crying about it, we took the L and went on. Mind you Paul Scholes admitted recently in an interview that he was lucky not to be sent off and that it was a hand ball. So I urge you Chelsea fans to go and watch the first leg and see who was actually robbed.
His saying the truth … just go and watch first leg…. All Chelsea fans , Barca play 10 against 11 that second leg you’re still crying that they robbed you… abidal red card didn’t worth it
Brighton29
1
the goal sent chills to the viewing centre where my brothers and I were watching that game, all of us United fans, tho we were rooting for Chelsea that particular year.. PEP ran all the way to go celebrate with both Bojan and Andres
Bakabmotu
5
The biggest robbery of all time! You can’t shame the shameless
haaiklmpuy
1
That was the match that made me to Barca. They cheated their way in that match. I'm a ManU fan.
sujalpkl4
0
Ook good
Rmulbah1992
0
THAT GOAL WAS ONE OF THE BEST GOALS IN THE HISTORY OF BAECA, THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AND IN THE LIFE OF INIESTA AS A PLAYER.
MrAB1884
0
Real Madrid President Pérez yesterday: 🚨🎙️ | Florentino Pérez: “It is unbelievable how Barcelona paid the vice-president of the refereeing committee up to €8 million over 17 years, for whatever reason. There is a big question mark, because that period matches exactly the time when Barcelona were at their best in their history…” And then yesterday, Elche were cheated out of points in broad daylight, even with the help of the referees, and Madrid still couldn’t win. Truly, this servant of God feels no shame pouring out such talk.
[image]
Real Madrid duniyar kwalon kafa kena
Chelseablood60
3
you are the one that didn't watch the game. as the saying goes, a thief isn't ashamed of himself that's what iniesta is
Pozbkprstu
5
daylight robbery of all time 😡😡😡😭
Keecimnops
2
you enjoyed the cheating
Caabcelmoy
1
iam a man u fans but honestly that ball was a broad day light robbery Barcelona should not by any means proud of it at all.
Dikbdlpsz
0
م
Dikbdlpsz
0
ناااتذنندنن
Dikbdlpsz
0
Dikbdlpsz
0
Dikbdlpsz
0
نتاااللرت ارا
PrimeGeorge07
0
I think iniesta the midfielder general should go to the internet and search up the biggest robbery in football history and see what will come up 🤣🤣 from that day till now and forever I’ll hate Barcelona as a football club and I put them as the most corrupt football club behind their masters Real Madrid 😂😂
Master? 😳😜😜😜😜😝😝😝😝
Iffy106
0
Time fly just like yesterday they robbed my Chelsea but that's Football World
Potadmptuy
1
to summarise that game u just say Tom Henning Ovrebo Tom Henning Ovrebo Tom Henning Ovrebo Tom Henning Ovrebo
temcdmnsu
1
robbery match
ice411
0
I'm a Chelsea fan ,I don't hate Barcelona oooo,if you look at the first leg of the game you'll see how Chelsea also robbed Barcelona ,and second is a carma for us .so don't be sentimental here ,let's be factual
Oga, remove that logo from there You were never a Chelsea fan
Fewklmpsu
0
biggest robbery football match ever
Fewklmpsu
0
that match was the biggest scam match ever in champions league history
ice411
0
I see so many people crying. It's obvious many of you didn't watch the first leg of the knockout stage. If the officials were fair to Barcelona, the tie would have ended in the first leg. The officials were bad in both legs. First leg favoured Chelsea and the second leg favoured Barcelona but y'all still crying like the first leg never happened. In 2008 Manchester United robbed Barcelona, a penalty for a hand ball on Paul Scholes wasn't given and Scholes eventually scored the winning goal to see United through to the finals, you don't see Barcelona fans crying about it, we took the L and went on. Mind you Paul Scholes admitted recently in an interview that he was lucky not to be sent off and that it was a hand ball. So I urge you Chelsea fans to go and watch the first leg and see who was actually robbed.
Idiomatic expression
Sikacmou
1
it was full of bribe
ninceimnp
0
it was all a fraud 🤥
Watch the 1st leg of the game you will change your words. Chelsea robbed in the 1st leg and Barca robbed it back in the 2nd leg. Fair enough
akintayoibraheem
0
waiting for Chelsea...
HuNcHotallguy123
0
bragging about the game we got robbed
I know you clearly doesn’t watch the first and second leg of this match cause if you do you won’t be saying this shit in 2025
vaciklmptz
0
Chelsea nailed you guys I wish there was VAR
yudcenrz
0
I'm a Chelsea fan ,I don't hate Barcelona oooo,if you look at the first leg of the game you'll see how Chelsea also robbed Barcelona ,and second is a carma for us .so don't be sentimental here ,let's be factual
I got you brother.
satdimnz
2
bragging about the game we got robbed
AFerusmc6546
2
I think iniesta the midfielder general should go to the internet and search up the biggest robbery in football history and see what will come up 🤣🤣 from that day till now and forever I’ll hate Barcelona as a football club and I put them as the most corrupt football club behind their masters Real Madrid 😂😂
U still b mumu till now
AFerusmc6546
1
it was all a fraud 🤥
Mumu
Lehelmnoyz
0
it was all a fraud 🤥
Mudcdkrz
0
that wuruwuru goal abi shameless man
Baffaboriello
3
Real Madrid President Pérez yesterday: 🚨🎙️ | Florentino Pérez: “It is unbelievable how Barcelona paid the vice-president of the refereeing committee up to €8 million over 17 years, for whatever reason. There is a big question mark, because that period matches exactly the time when Barcelona were at their best in their history…” And then yesterday, Elche were cheated out of points in broad daylight, even with the help of the referees, and Madrid still couldn’t win. Truly, this servant of God feels no shame pouring out such talk.
Gambiana001
1
I think iniesta the midfielder general should go to the internet and search up the biggest robbery in football history and see what will come up 🤣🤣 from that day till now and forever I’ll hate Barcelona as a football club and I put them as the most corrupt football club behind their masters Real Madrid 😂😂