January 9, 2009

Manchester United v Chelsea in the Abramovich era

Ahead of the two teams' meeting at Old Trafford on Sunday, some classic images from the landmark games between Manchester United and Chelsea over the last five seasons

Gallery chel: Mourinho — 15 August 2004: Having replaced Claudio Ranieri as manager, Jose Mourinho was thrown straight into the frying pan when he arrived at Chelsea - his opening game in charge being a 1-0 victory over the Red Devils courtesy of Eidur Gudjohnsen's first-half strike Photograph: Phil Cole/Getty Images

Gallery chel: guard of honour — 10 May 2005: Nine months later United were forced to welcome the new champions with a guard of honour at Old Trafford, and goals from Tiago, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Joe Cole meant the visitors also went on to post a record for number of league points gained Photograph: John Peters/Getty

Gallery Man U v Chelsea: Title — 29 April 2006: The following season Chelsea clinched a second consecutive league title thanks to victory over their nearest rivals. Goals from William Gallas, Joe Cole and Ricardo Carvalho did the damage, although a metatarsal injury to Wayne Rooney grabbed the headlines ahead of the World Cup Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

Gallery chel: Drogba — 19 May 2007: After United had regained the league title a year later, Didier Drogba nicked the game’s only goal in the first FA Cup final at the new Wembley after 115 miserable minutes Photograph: Michael Regan/Action Images

Gallery Man U v Chelsea: Patrice Evra — 26 April 2008: United's French defender Patrice Evra comes to blows with the groundstaff at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea edged a 2-1 victory to keep their 2007-08 title hopes alive, although it eventually proved a futile result. Evra was banned for five matches Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP

Gallery Man U v Chelsea: flailing bodies — 21 May 2008: The following month the clubs met in the first all-English Champions League final. Here, United's defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic attempt to clear the ball from the onslaught of Chelsea's Didier Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP

Gallery Man U v Chelsea: John Terry — Chelsea captain John Terry had the chance to win the penalty shoot-out but slipped as he struck the ball and it flew wide of the goal Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian

Gallery Man U v Chelsea: Champions League final — Gary Neville and Cristiano Ronaldo, who moments earlier had missed a penalty, look palpably relieved at their European Cup triumph at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian

Gallery Man U v Chelsea: Phil Scolari — 21 September 2008: Luiz Felipe Scolari expresses his anxiety as he endures the turbulence of his first meeting with United as Chelsea manager this season. The game finished in a 1-1 draw after Salomon Kalou equalised Ji-Sung Park's early goal Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian

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