For years it seemed like Chelsea and Barcelona could not go through a season without facing off. Now, after a five-year hiatus, the rivalry is back on.

They were drawn together in the last 16 of the Champions League, for their first competitive meeting since the semi-finals of the 2011-12 edition.

The second leg of that tie remains etched on the consciousness. John Terry was sent off early on, with Barca going 2-0 up to wipe out Chelsea's first game advantage.

After a five-year hiatus, the Chelsea-Barcelona rivalry returns to the Champions League

The last meeting took place in 2012 semi-final, where John Terry was sent off in the second leg

Chelsea battled off waves of Barcelona attacks to reach the final, Fernando Torres scoring late

Seemingly done and dusted, Chelsea stunningly pulled a goal back through Ramires, and after withstanding massive home pressure, Fernando Torres scored on the break to famously send commentator Gary Neville into raptures.

Chelsea and Barcelona's rivalry goes back to the Blues' first ever Champions League campaign in 1999-2000. They reached the quarter finals and won the first leg against the Catalans 3-1 at Stamford Bridge - only to get stomped 5-1 at the Nou Camp.

Things truly began to heat up, however, when Jose Mourinho arrived in town and the pair clashed in the last 16 of the 2004-05 competition.

Chelsea and Barcelona's first Champions League meeting was in the 1999-2000 season

Anders Frisk was forced to retire due to fan death threats after sending off Didier Drogba

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was banned after questioning the integrity of Frisk

CHELSEA VS BARCELONA IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 1999-2000, Quarter finals: Chelsea 3-1 Barca; Barca 5-1 Chelsea 2004-5, Round of 16: Barca 2-1 Chelsea; Chelsea 4-2 Barca 2005-6, Round of 16: Chelsea 1-2 Barca; Barca 1-1 Chelsea 2006-07, Group stage: Chelsea 1-0 Barca; Barca 2-2 Chelsea 2008-09, Semi finals: Barca 0-0 Chelsea; Chelsea 1-1 Barca 2011-12, Semi finals: Chelsea 1-0 Barca; Barca 2-2 Chelsea Advertisement

Mourinho questioned the integrity of referee Anders Frisk, accusing him of allowing himself to be influenced by Barca boss Frank Rijkaard during the interval of the first leg, which the La Liga side won 2-1 at home.

Jose said he 'was not surprised when Didier Drogba was sent off in the second half', and Frisk subsequently received death threats from Chelsea fans which caused him to retire from top-level refereeing.

Mourinho was branded an 'enemy of football' by a senior UEFA official and was banned from both legs of Chelsea's quarter final against Bayern Munich, after they beat Barca 4-2 at Stamford Bridge to progress.

The Portuguese manager was able to circumvent it for the second leg however, sneaking into the stadium early and being wheeled out in a laundry basket before the final whistle.

That 4-2 win, meanwhile, was a story in itself. Chelsea whooshed into a 3-0 lead inside 20 minutes before Ronaldinho clawed one back from the penalty spot.

Chelsea overcame Barca in 2005, but not before Ronaldinho scored a wonder goal

The Brazilian claimed he was racially abused as Chelsea won 4-2 to reach the last eight

Then on 38 minutes came quite possibly the buck-toothed Brazilian's finest moment, and for that there is stiff competition. He was unable to trap a long ball and was seemingly hopelessly surrounded by four Chelsea players on the edge of the D.

Yet Ronaldinho half-scooped, half-drove the ball with the outside of his boot, and found the net, just inside the left hand post. Even now, watching it back, it is hard to see how he managed it. Chelsea, however, found the winner, while the Brazilian claimed he had been racially abused.

The following season Barca got their revenge however, eliminating Chelsea in the first knockout round after winning 2-1 in England before earning a 1-1 in Spain.

2006's knockout meeting saw Asier Del Horno sent off for this tackle on Lionel Messi

Del Horno was tortured all game by Messi and was lucky to avoid an earlier red for this lunge

Chelsea went on to lose the first leg 2-1 and drew the second 1-1, sending them out the cup

The first leg was defined by a truly appalling tackle by Asier de Horno on Lionel Messi. The Spanish left back left little mark on Chelsea, but a significant one on the thigh of the Argentinian after raking his studs down it. He wasn't even sent off until later on in the game, for a brutal body-check.

Chelsea were fighting a losing battle from then on, and were dumped out by Messi, who was just starting to unveil the extent of his football wizardry - although he has faced the Blues eight times without scoring a single goal from 29 shots; his worst record against any club.

None of these, however, can match the controversy of the 2008-09 semi-finals, particularly the second leg at Stamford Bridge. Barca won the tie on away goals and went on to beat Manchester United in the final, but that tells not one per cent of the story.

2009's semi final was the most controversial, with Chelsea being denied at least four penalties

Barca won the game on away goals thanks to an Andres Iniesta strike, and then won the final

After a goalless draw at the Nou Camp, Chelsea were confident of progression. Michael Essien opened the scoring on nine minutes, but Andres Iniesta scored a late stunner to send Barcelona through on away goals.

In between times, referee Tom Henning Ovebro turned down four penalty calls, ranging from the marginal to the downright stonewall when Gerard Pique handled in the area. Didier Drogba - injured for the game - stormed onto the pitch to confront Ovebro at the final whistle, while the Norwegian became the latest official to get letters from Chelsea 'fans' telling him to kill himself.

All of this means the clash in February 2018 between Chelsea and Barca has a lot to live up to, but is not one to be missed.