5 best UEFA Champions League Finals

UEFA Champions League, a tournament which is filled with excitement and memorable moments for the fans. The UCL has seen some of the best matches to be ever played. From pure domination to underdogs’ winning the title, from comebacks to high-scoring matches, the tournament has seen everything.

Since its inception in 1955, UCL has seen 22 different winners. Previously known as the European Cup, the tournament came to be known by its new name, the UEFA Champions League, in 1992 and has been one the biggest tournament in club football for decades.

The UCL final, a showpiece event is one of the most anticipated matches in the European football season. There have been some finals which the fans can never forget. Here we rank the Top 5 Champions League finals in the competition’s history.

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5. Bayern Munich vs Chelsea, 1-1 (3-4 on Penalties) (2012 UCL Final)

The showpiece event in 2012 was played at the home of Bayern Munich, Allianz Arena. Bayern had the advantage as they were playing at home in front of their fans. Chelsea were coming into the finals after heroically beating the defending champions Barcelona. Both the teams had already lost their respective leagues. This was the first final for both teams since they lost their last final. Chelsea were defeated in the 2008 edition while Bayern were humbled by Inter Milan in 2010.

Bayern came into the final by defeating the likes of Basel, Marseille, and Real Madrid. Chelsea defeated Napoli, Benfica, and Barcelona on their way to Munich. After Chelsea’s unconvincing performance in the season, there was a change in manager. Robert Di Matteo took over as caretaker manager after Andre Villas-Boas was sacked.

Bayern Munich started the match on a stronger note and should have taken the lead, but they fluffed their lines. Mario Gomez missed sitters, Peter Cech meanwhile kept Chelsea in the game. Bayern eventually got their lead in the 83rd minute when Thomas Mueller headed in a Toni Kroos corner. There was jubilation all around. However, their joy was cut short as Drogba equalized for Chelsea from a corner of their own in the 88^th minute. Bayern were stunned as the match went to extra time and then penalties.

A match which Bayern should have won easily was to be decided on penalties. Drogba hit the winning penalty after Bastian Schweinsteiger and Olic missed for Bayern. Chelsea had just won their first champions league title at the home of Bayern. A match which stunned many fans, but it displayed the grit that Chelsea had.

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4. Barcelona vs Manchester United, 2-0 (2009 UCL Final)

The two giants of football went head to head in the 2009 UCL Final which was played at Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy. Fireworks were expected as the defending champions Manchester United were coming up against Barcelona who were hoping to win the Treble. It was also the first time that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi faced each other. A rivalry, which has left the footballing world mesmerized by their talents.

Manchester United defeated the likes of Inter Milan, Porto, and Arsenal on their way to the final. Barcelona dominated Lyon, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea on their way to Rome.

The match started with half-chances for both teams, but both teams struggled to create any real chances. However, after early chances for both sides, it was Barcelona who took the lead as Eto’o scored after getting the ball from Iniesta in the penalty box.

The goal shifted the balance in favor of Barcelona. In the second half, United came close but it was Barcelona who hit the post through Xavi and then Messi put the icing on the cake with a looping header giving Van Der Sar no chance. Barcelona eventually won the game and the Treble with Sir Alex Ferguson describing the Barcelona side as one of the greatest ever.

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3. Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid, 4-1 (2014 UCL Final)

The showpiece event in 2014 pitted the Madrid rivals against each other at Benfica’s Estadio Da Luz. While Madrid’s trio ‘BBC’ wreaked havoc, it was Simeone’s gritty defensive side which brought them to the final. Having won the La Liga title, Atletico were looking forward to winning the Champions League as well. Meanwhile, Madrid after their 12 years wait for the ‘La Decima’ had a real chance to win this time after being knocked out in the semis in the last two seasons.  

The match started with Real Madrid dominating the early stages. However, it was the ‘Los Colchoneros’ who took the lead after a rare mistake by Iker Casillas’. As expected, the rest of the match was attack vs defence, as Atletico were only looking to protect their 1-0 lead. They were good at protecting leads and that is what they did for almost the whole match until Sergio Ramos rose in the 92^nd minute to break Atelti’s hearts and save Real from another Champions League meltdown.

The equalizer shocked Atletico, and they could never recover from it as Madrid took their lead in Extra time through Gareth Bale, with Marcelo and Ronaldo adding to the misery late on. After coming so close to their maiden title, Atletico collapsed. It was Real Madrid who finally won their record 10th trophy after 12 years of waiting.

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2. Manchester United vs Bayern Munich, 2-1 (1999 UCL Final)

The Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona saw Manchester United and Bayern Munich face off in that year’s Champions League Final. After winning the domestic double in their respective leagues both teams were looking to add the most prestigious silverware to win the much-coveted Treble.

The then three-time champions Bayern started the match strongly and took the lead 6 minutes into the game through a low free-kick by Mario Basler and were unlucky not to add in the second half. Despite controlling the match, the lead was only 1-0 as they hit the post twice. In the search of an equaliser, Alex Ferguson brought on Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solksjaer. The game was looking like a lost cause for United until two late strikes from the substitutes Sheringham and Solksjaer won the game for United in “Fergie time” as it is famously known. It looked like Bayern’s 23-year wait for the European trophy was about to end.

The game was turned in the spur of a moment and Bayern players were in agony having thought they had won the game. United who were outplayed for 90 minutes snatched the title at the very end from Bayern Munich to win the Treble. United had won their first title since 1968 in a dramatic way.

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1. AC Milan vs Liverpool, 3-3 (2-3 on Pen) (2005 UCL Final)

On the top position, we have the ‘Miracle of Istanbul’ which was arguably the greatest comeback in football. Liverpool and AC Milan were pitted against each other in the 2005 UCL Final. The legendary side of AC Milan led by Carlo Ancelotti were the favorites to lift the trophy.

As the match started, Milan displayed their dominance and raced into a 3-0 halftime lead with strikes from Maldini and Crespo. It was looking like the title was already decided. Many Liverpool fans were already seen leaving the stadium at halftime.

At halftime, Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez had a huge task to rally his troops to go and fight and try to salvage something out of the match. Liverpool came out in the second half much better in the second half and scored 3 goals in the space of 6 minutes to equalise a dramatic turn of events.

The match eventually went to penalties and Jerzy Dudek was the hero for Liverpool as they won 3-2 on penalties. The match which was looking lost at half time was turned in its head by the inspired Liverpool side.

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