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On This Day: Messi replicated Maradona masterpiece; Chelsea shocked Barca in UCL

  /  Geralt

Hi all, welcome to All Football's On This Day! Let's find out what happened today (April 18th) in football history. If you have more stories and news that happened on this day in history, feel free to post them in the comment area and share them with AFers!

On this day in 2007, Messi scored one of the greatest ever solo goals

18 April 2007 was the date when FC Barcelona played Getafe in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals. In the 28th minute Messi left the crowd speechless with a goal reminiscent of his compatriot Diego Armando Maradona.

The Argentinian controlled a pass from Xavi Hernández on the right-hand side of his half and he went past Paredes and then nutmegged Nacho. Then he dribbled past Nacho again before leaving Alexis and Belenguer for dead as well. Once he was in the opposition’s box he is confronted by Luis Garcia rushing out but the Argentinian goes past him as well and rolls the ball into the net.

On this day in 2012, Chelsea beat Barca 1-0 in UCL semi-final

Didier Drogba fired a crucial winner as Chelsea shocked Barcelona with a 1-0 triumph in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final tie at Stamford Bridge.

The Ivory Coast frontman struck in the second minute of injury time after Frank Lampard released Ramires down the wing, with the Brazilian feeding Drogba with a pinpoint cross and allowing him to slot beyond Victor Valdes.

On this day in 1990, Juve keeper Szczesny was born

After starting his club career at Legia Warsaw, Szczęsny signed for Arsenal in 2006, where he made his professional debut in 2009. After a spell on loan with Brentford the following season, he later became the capital club's first choice goalkeeper, winning two FA Cups and being the joint recipient of the 2013–14 Premier League Golden Glove with Petr Čech. He subsequently went on two consecutive season-long loans to Roma in 2015, where his performances earned him a move to reigning league champions Juventus in 2017. After serving mainly as a back-up to Gianluigi Buffon in his first season, during which he won a domestic double, he inherited the starting spot from the departed Buffon the following season.

On this day in 1905, Real Madrid won their 1st national title

Only three teams contested the 1905 edition - Madrid, San Sebastian RC, and Athletic Bilbao. The tournament used a table format, with each team scheduled to play one match each against the other two. Wins earned two points, while draws earned one and the team at the top of the table at the finish took the trophy.

Madrid opened the tournament on 16 April with a 3-0 win over San Sebastian, then faced Bilbao two days later. It was a close contest, refereed by one of San Sebastian's players, but Madrid claimed their second win thanks to Manuel Prast (pictured, front row, second from left), who scored the match's only goal. The win secured Madrid's place at the top of the table with four points, while San Sebastian later defeated Bilbao to finish in second.

On this day in 2001, Man Utd took team photo of XI with surprise 12th person

As the starters gathered on the pitch for their pre-match photo, they were unknowingly joined by out-of-work laborer Karl Power (pictured at far left).

Power had snuck into the stadium disguised as a member of a television crew, then changed into the Manchester United away kit and walked out unchallenged onto the pitch for the photo. Some of the players noticed him (such as Roy Keane, standing at far right and looking at Power), but he managed to stay for the photo, then retreated into the stands to watch the match.