Chelsea and Bayern Munich will meet this week for the first time in the Champions League since the 2012 final.



That showpiece had been staged at the Bundesliga club’s Allianz Arena, with Jupp Heynckes’ locals considered overwhelming favourites to prevail against a side under the interim management of Roberto Di Matteo. But it was in Bavaria that a journey under the ownership of Roman Abramovich which had taken in eight managers and 101 Champions League games, via one infamous performance from a Norwegian referee and two fluffed penalties in a shoot-out in Moscow, not to mention over £600 million in transfer fees, culminated in glory.



With testimonies from now and then of those involved, The Athletic looks back on a tumultuous occasion when a group of players forged years previously by Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti finally seized their opportunity on the greatest stage.



This is the story of Chelsea’s Miracle of Munich.



The...