Chelsea's European final pedigree

This month's UEFA Europa League decider will be Chelsea FC's third major European final in six seasons. The Blues had only twice before reached the denouement of a UEFA competition. UEFA.com looks back on the west London club's European final pedigree ahead of their meeting with SL Benfica at the Amsterdam ArenA on 15 May.

1970/71 UCWC: won 2-1 v Real Madrid CF (replay after 1-1 draw)
Madrid had the upper hand at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium but fell behind to a Peter Osgood goal early in the second half. Chelsea's defence, marshalled by John Dempsey and David Webb, stood firm until the last minute when Ignacio Zoco equalised. That forced a replay 48 hours later, again in Piraeus, with Dave Sexton's side once more going in front – this time through Dempsey just after the half-hour. Osgood doubled the advantage before the interval and although Sebastián Fleitas reduced Madrid's arrears, Chelsea clung on to become the third English capital team to lift the European Cup Winners' Cup.

1997/98 UCWC: won 1-0 v VfB Stuttgart
Twenty-seven years after their first taste of continental glory, Chelsea were at it again in the penultimate edition of the Cup Winners' Cup. Gianfranco Zola, who would later be voted by fans as Stamford Bridge's greatest ever player, struck the only goal against Stuttgart in Stockholm. Consigned to the bench because of a groin strain, the Italian came on after 69 minutes and made the difference. Racing onto Dennis Wise's defence-splitting pass, he unleashed a spectacular shot into the top corner for Gianluca Vialli's charges. Both sides ended with ten men, Dan Petrescu and Gerhard Poschner being dismissed late on.

John Terry's slip proved costly©Getty Images

2007/08 UCL: lost 6-5 on pens v Manchester United FC (1-1 aet)
Making their debut appearance in the final of Europe's premier club competition, Chelsea were one penalty away from lifting the trophy. The man to miss the chance to win this most coveted piece of silverware was talismanic captain John Terry, whose inopportune slip meant his effort hit a post. Nicolas Anelka's subsequent attempt was saved, decisively, by Edwin van der Sar, 13 years after the keeper's first UEFA Champions League final. The match, played out amid torrential rain in Moscow, had gone to penalties after Frank Lampard cancelled out Cristiano Ronaldo's header. Didier Drogba was sent off in extra time for Avram Grant's team.

2011/12 UCL: won 4-3 on pens v FC Bayern München (1-1 aet)
A remarkable triumph, as caretaker manager Roberto Di Matteo took his side to a final date at their opponents' very own Fußball Arena München. Thomas Müller looked to have given the German giants victory with seven minutes left, but Drogba's 88th-minute goal prompted extra time. Unaffected by the agony of Moscow four years earlier, a Terry-less Chelsea prevailed on penalties to conquer Europe – Drogba converting the winning spot kick with his last-ever act for the Londoners. Chelsea proceeded to lose 4-1 to Club Atlético de Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup.

Key
UCL: UEFA Champions League
UCUP: UEFA Cup
UCWC: UEFA Cup Winners' Cup