Arsenal entered the Champions League group stage in the 2003–04 season and faced Dynamo Kyiv, Internazionale and Lokomotiv Moscow. Without a win in their first three matches, Arsenal faced an early exit from the competition but managed a victory against Dynamo Kyiv, after defender Ashley Cole scored via a header. At the San Siro, Arsenal beat Internazionale 5-1, in a performance described as "one of the greatest results in [the club's] history". A win in their final group game against Lokomotiv Moscow was enough for Arsenal to top their group and play an unseeded team in the last 16. Arsenal eliminated Celta Vigo and faced fellow English club Chelsea at the quarter-final stage. Going into the first leg, Arsenal were favourites, having played their London rivals three times during the course of the season, winning on each occasion. Former Dutch international Johan Cruyff backed Arsenal to win the competition, saying "If Arsenal win it playing football the way only they know how then Europe would be proud to have such champions". A Robert Pires away goal at Stamford Bridge gave Arsenal an advantage going into the second leg, but Chelsea won 2–1 at Highbury with a late goal from Wayne Bridge to progress to the semi-finals. A year later, Arsenal exited the Champions League after losing 3-2 to Bayern Munich on aggregate, in the last 16 stage.
