5 greatest UEFA Champions League finals of all time

The UEFA Champions League is tipped to be the best football competition in the world. And for good reason. From the 20 odd seasons of the modern version of the competition, it could be easily learnt that things can’t be taken for granted. It is the sheer drama of the competition that provides spectators the best entertainment. In its wake, the competition has left us with some memorable and dramatic contests, indicating that nothing can be predicted. It has been difficult but enjoyable to decide the 5 greatest moments, which range from a few seconds to the final minutes of games. Narrowing down the business just to the finals of all seasons, picking the top 5 was still a challenge.

5. 2007-08: Chelsea denied in Moscow

In an all-English battle for European supremacy, Chelsea and Manchester United locked horns in the 2008 final at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow. The Red Devils went into the game having already denied Chelsea the Premier League title, and they were ready to inflict further damage upon the Blues. Cristiano Ronaldo gave United the lead in the 26th minute. Frank Lampard equalized for Chelsea in the 45th, and with no further goals in normal time and extra time, the game went into the penalties. Didier Drogba had been sent off in the second half of extra time, and Chelsea suffered from his absence. Ronaldo and Terry’s misses in slippery conditions took the tie to sudden death penalties. After successful attempts from Anderson, Kalou, and then Ryan Giggs, Nicolas Anelka missed, handing the title to United.

4. 2000-01: Kahn the hero for Bayern

Bayern Munich faced off Valencia CF in Milan’s Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in the 2000-01 Champions League final. About 50 minutes after a third minute spot-kick goal from skipper Mendieta put Valencia in front, Bayern equalized from another spot-kick, scored by their captain Stefan Effenberg. With no more goals in normal time and none in the extra-time that followed, it went down to penalties. Paulo Sergio missed for Bayern and Zahovic for Valencia, bringing it to 3-3, as Salihamidzic and Zickler had scored for Bayern and Mendieta and Carew for Valencia. Andersson and Carboni missed for their respective teams, and with Effenberg and Baraja scoring respectively, sudden death was required. Both Lizarazu and Linke scored for Bayern, while Oliver Kahn stole the show for saving Mauricio Pellegrino’s effort, winning Bayern the title.

3. 2011-12: Drogba leads Chelsea to history

There have been many Champions League Finals decided by penalty shoot-outs, but the fact that makes last season’s final dramatic was the battle during the 120 minutes of open play. Chelsea entered the Allianz Arena on the 19th of May 2012 on the back of stunning defending champs and favourites Barcelona. But against a powerful Bayern Munich team who were playing in their own backyard, most of the pundits had written the London club off. But under the pressure from the fans, Bayern could not keep their nerves. Bayern dominated the game, but did not take their chances until the 83rd minute, when Thomas Muller headed past Cech to set the stadium ablaze. It wasn’t Bayern’s day, however. An 88th minute Didier Drogba goal took the tie to extra-time. In extra-time, Bayern had a glorious chance to win it when they were awarded a spot-kick. Petr Cech, however, had other ideas. Arjen Robben’s penalty was blocked, and Chelsea went on to win the following penalty shoot-out, thanks to their masked custodian. Drogba was in the thick of the action again, scoring the winning spot-kick and leading Chelsea to their first Champions League victory.

2. 2004-05: Milan not good enough

Held at the Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, AC Milan went into the 2004-05 final as favourites. And with Paulo Maldini’s 52-second goal opening the scoring, the Italians were flying high. To add to that, Crespo scored a brace within 5 minutes, and at half-time, Milan led 3-0. With a comprehensive victory on the cards, Milan went into the second half confidently. But what Liverpool did was magical. In one of the most dramatic turnarounds in football, the English team scored 3 goals within six minutes, with captain Steven Gerrard leading from the front. His 54th minute goal was followed by Smicer’s 56th minute strike. And when Xabi Alonso equalized in the 60th minute, the whole Milan team was devastated. They never recovered. Although the game finished all square after extra-time, the Italians’ nerves were clearly seen. Serginho, Pirlo and Shevchenko missed from the spot, and Liverpool earned the title.

1. 1998-99: Never take your eyes off the game

The 90,000 audience that was present at the Camp Nou on the 26th of May 1999 for the Champions League Final, witnessed one of the most dramatic games ever played in the history of the game. Manchester United faced Bayern Munich in a hotly contested encounter. Mario Basler’s sixth minute goal had given Bayern an early lead. It lasted for 86 minutes. In the first minute of stoppage time, Teddy Sheringham equalized from a David Beckham corner just when Bayern were ready to celebrate. Everyone was waiting for extra time, but it never arrived. Two minutes after the Sheringham goal, Ole Solskjaer scored from another David Beckham corner to snatch the title from Bayern’s grasp. Manchester United completed the treble, having already won the Premiership and the FA Cup, and Bayern lost their domestic cup final as an aftermath of the shocking turnaround.

The drama of the game resulted in this quote from United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson - “I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it. Football, bloody hell!”