Remarkably, eight years have now passed since Fernando Torres sent Chelsea through to the Champions League final with that famous goal against Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
As you’ll remember, Torres had a really tough time at Stamford Bridge. Try as he might, he just couldn’t recapture the prolific form he had demonstrated at Liverpool and Atletico Madrid.
Given that Chelsea had shelled out a colossal £50 million fee to bring the Spaniard to the club, the pressure on his shoulders was overwhelming, and it looked like it was really getting to him.
But to the surprise of everybody, on April 24, 2012, Torres managed to give Chelsea fans a remarkable moment worthy of at least a full page in their club’s history books.
He managed to finish off one of the most unlikely results in Champions League history, and in the process, somewhat redeemed his credibility and status among the Chelsea faithful.
With Barcelona 2-0 up on 40 minutes, and John Terry already dismissed for violent conduct, it looked like Chelsea’s hopes of Champions League glory might be slipping away.
A brilliant chip from Ramires on the stroke of half time restored the Blues’ lead on away goals, but given Barca’s brilliant home form that season, it looked like Chelsea wouldn’t hold on.
Step forward, Fernando Torres. Having replaced Didier Drogba on 80 minutes, the Spaniard waited until the last minute to make Chelsea’s spot in the final secure. Take a look below:
From inside his own half, Torres runs through on goal and rounds Victor Valdes with the skill and composure which had eluded him up to that point in a Chelsea shirt.
Of course, the goal is remembered for Gary Neville’s commentary as much as anything else. His moan of ecstasy as the goal went in captured how so many of us felt in that moment.
And as you’ll no doubt remember, Chelsea went on to beat Bayern on penalties in the final, and lifted the 2012 Champions League trophy. We’ll never forget you, El Nino!