Jose Mourinho made a successful return to Stamford Bridge as his Internazionale side deservedly sealed their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League by beating Chelsea 1-0 to complete a 3-1 aggregate success.
Making his first appearance at the club since he left in September 2007, Mourinho out-thought current Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti as his team won on the night courtesy of Samuel Eto'o's late goal.
To add to Chelsea's dismal evening, Didier Drogba was sent off in the closing stages for apparently stamping on Thiago Motta.
Inter had not been in good form recently and lost 3-1 to Catania on Friday while Italian football had been heavily criticised in the wake of AC Milan's dismal display at Manchester United six days ago.
But they attacked their hosts at every opportunity and, but for brief spells either side of the interval, dominated proceedings.
Inter were certainly not over-awed by the volatile Stamford Bridge atmosphere and in the sixth minute Maicon's drilled cross found the outstanding Wesley Sneijder whose powerful shot was blocked by Alex.
Maicon then fired a wayward effort high and wide but, when Chelsea hit back in the 12th minute, Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack combined well before the German sent a low drive narrowly wide.
Inter were dictating the pace of the game but in the 26th minute Florent Malouda caused panic in the penalty area and, when the ball broke to Didier Drogba, the Ivorian's shot was superbly blocked by Maicon.
Six minutes later Nicolas Anelka wasted a great opportunity with a poor pass inside the penalty area when a precise ball would surely have led to a goal.
Maicon, in acres of space yet again, curled in a cross that John Terry completely missed but a surprised Eto'o headed off target.
Chelsea ended the first half well with Anelka and Ballack combining to set up Malouda who made some space for himself with a subtle twist. He was just about to try a shot on goal when Walter Samuel made a brilliant last-gasp block.
Anelka was also denied before the break but, after Chelsea forced Inter on to the back foot at the start of the second half, Inter broke their shackles on the hour and Goran Pandev was denied by a last-ditch Yuri Zhirkov tackle.
In the 66th minute an unmarked Diego Milito dragged a shot wide when he should really have hit the target and five minutes later another perfect Sneijder cross found the unmarked Motta who headed a great chance over the bar.
The crucial goal came with 12 minutes left when Eto'o, who had been poor all evening, suddenly beat the offside trap, ran clear and slotted the ball past Ross Turnbull
With three minutes left, and to cap a dreadful match for Chelsea, Drogba was dismissed, but it was another superb evening for Mourinho.