18 April,2015 01:57 PM IST | | Soumil Kamat
The stage is sent for the big weekend clash between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. While the visitors are looking high on their winning streak, the hosts are gunning for yet another step closer to the title
Chelseas Ivorian striker Didier Drogba (2nd L) jumps above Manchester Uniteds Brazilian defender Rafael to score the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west
The stage is sent for the big weekend clash between table toppers Chelsea and third placed Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. While the visitors are looking high on their winning streak, the hosts are gunning for yet another step closer to the coveted title.
While we are at the matches, let-s take a look at previous top 5 clashes between the two Premier League giants.
Chelsea 5-0 Manchester United: Premier League 1999
Inspite of one of the greatest season for Manchester United, where they won a record 91-points to clinch the Premier League title, this defeat was a hard one to swallow. Treble-winners Manchester United had gone 29 games without defeat in the league before their trip to Chelsea in October. The high-tempo match saw United-s Nicky Butt sent-off for kicking out at Dennis Wise. After scoring with 30 seconds in the first half, Zola along with his team-mates demolished the team that had David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Andrew Cole and Silvestre at the helm.
Chelsea 3-1 Manchester United: Premier League 2005
Even though Ruud Van Nistelrooy-s superb finish from close-range gave United an early lead, post that high, the Reds struggled to break down the dominating Blues. Chelsea came from behind to beat Manchester United 3-1 and create a new Premiership points record of 94 surpassing Manchester United-s record in 1993/4, which was a 42-game campaign.
Chelsea 1-3 Manchester United: Premier League 2011
In a highly eventful encounter at Old Trafford, Manchester United went two points clear at the top of the Premier League after beating Chelsea. Chris Smalling, Nani and Wayne Rooney fired up United till half-time with goals while Chelsea having a bad day in the defence department. The solace for Chelsea was Fernando Torres- who not only had a lively game but also scored his first goal of the season. However, there was no excuse for Torres when despite sidestepping De Gea with ease and composure , he missed an open goal as the Blues stared in disbelief.
Chelsea 3-3 Manchester United: Premier League 2012
The famous -comeback kings- had a spectacular match at the Stamford Bridge and this match again affirmed the tag that comebacks were a part and parcel of Sir Alex Ferguson-s team. After going down 3 goals at Stamford Bridge inside 50-minutes, Wayne Rooney-s penalty made their comeback possible. However, it took a super-sub display from Javier -Chicharito- Hernandez to share the points between both sides.
Chelsea 2-3 Manchester United: Premier League, 2012
This game was Chelsea-s first league defeat of the 2012/13 season as they lost 3-2 to Manchester United in an eventful game. David Luiz-s own goal and Robin van Persie-s clinical finish gave Manchester United a two-goal lead early on, but superb goals from Juan Mata and Ramires equalled the score. The game turn an ugly turn when two red cards awarded against Chelsea in the space of five minutes that set the scene for substitute Hernandez who later scored a cheeky winner from close range.
