One of the most renowned tournaments, The UEFA Championship finals have always been the most exciting ones. With lots of drama, heartbreaks, comeback, disappointment, and some incredible performances. The last year’s Champions League final was watched by approximately 380 million viewers from over 200 countries. There is no shortage of thrilling finishes in the Champions League. So let’s look at the 5 greatest UEFA Champions League finals of all time.
5. Barcelona 2-1 Arsenal, 2006
Barcelona won their second European Championship in Paris over Arsenal in 2006. It was a very thrilling match, and the atmosphere at the stadium made it more exciting. Arsenal’s journey to the Champions League Final 2006 was all about their young men’s firing since the start of the season. They showed bravery and fight till the end in every match.
Arsenal played with 10 men for 72 minutes after Jens Lehmann was sent off in the early stages of the game. Sol Campbell scored the opening goal of the match to put Arsenal in the lead at the 37th minute. And then in the 76th minute Samuel Eto’o scored the equalizer. And only five minutes later, defensive substitute Juliano Belletti gave the lead at the 81st minute, and Frank Rijkaard’s club claimed the 2nd European Chamoopinship.
4. Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid, 2014
One of the greatest UEFA finals ever played. Lots of ups and downs in the game and then a dramatic finish in the stoppage time. The Madrid derby saw a great battle between both sides. The center-back Diego Godin took the lead and put Athletico Madrid on top. Atletico defended very well for 90 minutes. But Sergio Ramos had some different plans that day. He scored the equalizer in the 93rd minute and took the game to the extra time.
Real Madrid was more attacking in the extra time and scored three goals coming from Gareth Bale, Marcelo, and Cristiano Ronaldo to beat their rivals and win the UEFA Champions League title for the 10th time.
3. Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool, 2018
This game is mostly remembered for the two most memorable goals in Champions League final history. Real Madrid claimed their third successive Champions League title by beating Liverpool 3-1 in the finals. Liverpool had suffered a huge blow at the early stages of the game when they lose top scorer Mohamed Salah midway through the first half with a shoulder injury in a challenge with Sergio Ramos.
Gareth Bale scored one of the great football goals ever with an overhead kick. He also became the first player ever to come on as a substitute and score twice in a European Cup/Champions League final. Real Madrid won record 13thgames in this competition, and also this was their fourth win in five seasons, coach Zinedine Zidane won his third triumph in three years.
2. Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich, 1999
One of the most dramatic finishes in the finals of the UEFA championships. And this match is often regarded as one of the greatest comebacks in the finals of UEFA history. Mario Balser gave the lead to Bayern Munich in the 6th minute of the game. Bayern defended the lead until the 90th minute and then David Beckham pulled off his magic and took Manchester United to a victory in the last few minutes.
David Beckham swung in the corner, Teddy Sheringham took the strike and Manchester United brings up the equalizer. And in the 93rd minute of the game, Beckham took one more corner, this was the sub Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who put the ball in Bayern’s net and United pulled of one of the greatest comebacks. The 90,000 fans in the stadium erupted in joy as Red Devils won their second European Championship in dramatic fashion.
1. AC Milan 3-3 (2-3P) Liverpool, 2005
It’s a no-brainer, that “The Miracle of Istanbul” tops the list. This game had everything from the start to the end there was not a single dull moment in the game. AC Milan scored their first goal in under a minute, with the help of captain Paolo Maldini’s volley. And then scoring two more goals coming from Hernan Crespo before the halftime that took AC Milan took a comfortable three-goal lead.
But Liverpool had some other plans that day. They scored 3 goals in 6 minutes and pulling the game back in no time with goals from Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer, and Xabi Alonso. The game went to a penalty shootout where Liverpool’s Goalkeeper Dudek was the hero, saving a Shevchenko penalty and give the Reds their fifth European title. Gerrard declared the man of the match for his incredible performance.