Throwbacks

Chelsea have been hurt by a loanee once before in the Champions League as Nicolas Jackson makes trip

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If Nicolas Jackson makes an impact for Bayern tonight, it won’t have been the first time Chelsea have suffered at the hands of a loanee in the Champions League.

In the buildup to this Champions League opener, Nicolas Jackson has been at the centre of conversations, having left Chelsea just a few weeks ago.

Jackson can feature for Bayern per UEFA rules, something that isn’t allowed in English football.

Whether he has a significant impact (or plays at all) remains to be seen. But the situation is reminiscent of a painful memory that cost Chelsea a trip to the Champions League final.

Thibaut Courtois was in goal for Atletico in UCL semi-final while on loan from Chelsea

Over a decade ago, 21-year-old Thibaut Courtois was on the books at Stamford Bridge.

But that didn’t prevent him from starting between the sticks in both legs of Atletico Madrid’s 2014 semi-final tie against Chelsea.

Courtois was in his third season on loan in the Spanish capital, starting for Diego Simeone since the age of 19. Chelsea still had Petr Cech as first choice, and were allowing the Belgian to develop elsewhere.

SOCCER : UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg - Chelsea v Atletico Madrid
Photo by Matthew Ashton/AMA/AMA/Corbis via Getty Images

Little did they know, he would be in a position to prevent them from reaching a Champions League final.

The first leg in Madrid was typical of a visit to the Metropolitano, ending in a 0-0 draw. That was a vintage Simeone performance, surviving an onslaught from Chelsea and finding a result.

But the second leg was where Chelsea fans really got a kick in the stomach.

Courtois put on a masterclass vs Chelsea

Atletico travelled to Stamford Bridge knowing a draw or a win would take them to the final. It was a far less cagey affair, with both sides creating chances and managing ten attempts on goal each.

Courtois pulled off some magnificent stops, allowing just one goal as Atletico scored three, and helping the Spanish side to their first and only victory over the Blues.

Soccer : UEFA Champions League semi-final 2nd Leg - Chelsea v Atletico Madrid
Photo by Catherine Ivill/AMA/AMA/Corbis via Getty Images

Atletico would go on to lose the Madrid derby in the final, but got one back on their rivals by winning La Liga that same season.

That Courtois was in the position to break the hearts of Chelsea fans still frustrates to this day, but he did make up for it fairly quickly.

He returned to Stamford Bridge the following season, winning the Premier League on his first and third attempt, and cementing himself as a Chelsea legend.