Frank Lampard feared the worst when Chelsea went 2-0 down before historic comeback against Barcelona

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Frank Lampard has recalled how he feared Barcelona would reach double figures after they took a 2-0 lead against a 10-man Chelsea side in 2012.

The Blues’ 1-0 advantage from the first leg was eradicated when Sergio Busquets gave the hosts the lead before John Terry’s sending off left them with a mountain to climb.

Andreas Iniesta grabbed a second goal for Barca shortly after and the LaLigaside looked to be in complete control as the game edged towards half-time.

Frank Lampard has recalled the best night of his footballing life when Chelsea beat Barcelona

The former midfielder told Jamie Redknapp he feared Barcelona could reach double figures

Ramires put Chelsea back in the ascendancy when he chipped Victor Valdes to make it 2-1

🗣”I thought this could be the worst night of my footballing life, I was thinking towards double figures, I spent the first 20 minutes getting nowhere near Xavi and Iniesta”

Frank Lampard on Chelsea beating Barcelona in UCL semi-final in 2012#SkyFootballShowpic.twitter.com/rzvAzNucX4

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) May 19, 2020

But a breakaway goal from Ramires, assisted by Lampard, put Chelsea back in the ascendancy just before the break.

After another 45 minutes of defending, the Blues did the unthinkable when Fernando Torres broke away to level the score on the night and send Roberto Di Matteo’s side to the final in Munich.

Lampard said he feared the worst when they went behind to a Barca team at their peak but that the night quickly turned into the ‘best in his footballing life’.

The Blues were left with a mountain to climb when captain John Terry saw red in the first half

Lampard told Jamie Redknapp he had spent the first 20 minutes of the game chasing shadows

‘When we went 2-0 down and had 10 men, had the reshuffle. I thought this could be the worst night of my life,’ he told Jamie Redknapp on Tuesday’s episode of The Football Show on Sky Sports. 

‘I was thinking towards double figures, I wouldn’t have bee surprised. I’d spent the first 20 minutes getting nowhere near Xavi and Iniesta.

‘It sounds funny but it’s not a joke. You’ve played at that high level where players can hurt you, I just didn’t see it. 

‘If we don’t score the goal before half-time then no chance. It was the only time I got into the Barcelona half in the first half and thankfully I had a runner in Ramires to find. 

‘It was a good pass but even better finish. I don’t think at half-time we thought we had much of a chance. It was more the feeling of the second half.’

The goal from the Brazilian changed the the game as Chelsea sat back in the second half

The Chelsea boss also remembers how his side spent the second half with their backs against the wall but that a feeling it could be their year developed as the game went on. 

‘I hardly got past my own 18-yard box in the second half. When you went up to Iniesta he’d just go by you. It was just shuffling, get across, get across. 

‘We had a few moments to catch our breath but it was just a dig-in scenario. It’s easy said now because we had Bayern at home to come but when those things come together and again you have no right to win, then you do. 

‘Fernando had a tough time here and had that special moment himself. There was great celebrations and we felt this could be the one.’ 

Fernando Torres ensured the Blues would go to the final in Munich with a late breakaway goal