FROM DUDA'S DEBUT TO BERTONI'S GOAL: SEVILLA-CHELSEA IN THE SEVENTIES

Sevilla FC and Chelsea FC contest first spot in Champions League Group E on Wednesday night. Chelsea are one of Europe's biggest clubs and Sevilla will look to showcase their recent sporting development and compete toe-to-toe with the London side and their billions. However, the past wasn't as kind to either of the two clubs as the present day. While Chelsea have never played an official match at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, they did visit Sevilla's home twice in the seventies.

They first visited 1975 and returned in 1978. The first time came on 31 May 1975. There was a happy mood in Nervión as only a week prior, Roque Olsen's men had just secured promotion to the First Division. Quite unlike modern football, the team did not go on a break and instead continued training and played Chelsea, still in high spirits. Things were quite different at Chelsea too, as the London side had just been relegated to the Second Division.

In 1975, Sevilla had just been promoted to the First Division and Chelsea relegated to the Second

Sevillistas flocked to the stadium to celebrate promotion and to see the new arrival, the Brazilian forward José Francisco Leandro Filho 'Duda'. Arriving from Vitoria Setúbal, Duda had a debut to remember and scored a header to make it 2-0 after Ventosa had opened the scoring. The Brazilian would only play thirteen games for the Club in 75/76 before moving to Porto where he enjoyed a longer, more fruitful stint.

Only three years later, Chelsea were back in Seville, as part of the 78/79 preseason. Under the management of Luis Cid, Sevilla had finished eighth in the league, while Chelsea, back in the First Division, finished lower mid-table. The match was played on 9 August 1978 and Sevilla came out on top again, winning in a thrilling 3-2 victory. The fans also were able to see a debut goal from Sevilla's latest signing, Daniel Bertoni, who had just won the World Cup with Argentina in his home country.

Bertoni, Scotta, and Rubio sealed the win for Sevilla in 1978

Chelsea went in front through a goal from Swain, but Bertoni and Scotta turned it around to 2-1. Aylott equalised for Chelsea before Julián Rubio quickly restored Sevilla's lead in the friendly. The subsequent season was not a memorable one for the Nervionenses, with Carriega's men finishing eleventh in the league. The season was even less memorable for the London side however, with Chelsea finishing last in the league and returning to the Second Division. 

Dozens of cameras will immortalise what happens on Wednesday night, unlike the two friendlies. The match will undoubtably be watched by millions over television but, sadly, not yet by any of our dear fans from inside the stadium.