From stunning comebacks to last-minute winners, here are five of the most unforgettable Champions League Finals of all time.
As Manchester City and Inter Milan prepare to go head-to-head this weekend for the chance to claim one of the most prestigious prizes in club football, we look back at some of the most memorable finals from the tournament’s rich history.
1999: Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich
The 1999 final will forever be etched in football folklore. Trailing 1-0 heading into stoppage time, Manchester United staged a remarkable comeback with goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to secure a 2-1 victory. The dramatic turnaround in injury time sealed the treble for United and exemplified the never-give-up spirit that defined Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United. It was a star-studded United team that did duty that night including names like Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Peter Schmeichel and Jaap Stam.
“𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗦𝗞𝗝𝗔𝗘𝗥 𝗛𝗔𝗦 𝗪𝗢𝗡 𝗜𝗧!”#OnThisDay in 1999: Manchester United completed a historic treble with a 2-1 win against Bayern Munich in the #UCL final.
— UtdDistrict (@UtdDistrict) May 26, 2023
pic.twitter.com/UXCO9HF6DQ
2005: Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan (Liverpool win 3-2 on penalties)
The 2005 final between Liverpool and AC Milan is widely regarded as the ‘Miracle of Istanbul.’ After a dire first 54 minutes Liverpool found themselves 3-0 down at halftime, only to stage a sensational, Steven Gerrard inspired, second-half comeback, levelling the score at 3-3. The match eventually went to penalties, where Liverpool emerged triumphant. This extraordinary encounter showcased the unpredictability and drama that the Champions League is known for.
#OnThisDay in 2005, the miracle of Istanbul! 🇹🇷
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 25, 2018
Half-time: AC Milan 3-0 Liverpool
Full-time: AC Milan 3-3 Liverpool
Liverpool win 3-2 on penalties! 🎉🎉🎉#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/lmm5cPrnFH
2013: Bayern Munich 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
The 2013 final between German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund was a clash of two Bundesliga powerhouses and it was played at London’s Wembley Stadium. Arjen Robben’s 89th-minute winner sealed the victory for Bayern after the opener from Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic had been cancelled out by non-other than current Manchester City skipper Ilkay Gundogan. This was a game of Germanic intensity and skill and Gundogan for one, will be hoping to finish on the winning side on this occasion.
May 25th 2013
— victor akhidenor (@vps2010) May 25, 2023
Arjen Robben scores twice as Bayern Munich beats Borussia Dortmund, 2-1 in the first all-German final of the UEFA Champions League. pic.twitter.com/yNQ9M84L50
2006: Barcelona 2-1 Arsenal
The 2006 final saw an enthralling encounter between Barcelona and Arsenal. Despite going down to 10 men early in the match, when ‘keeper Jens Lehmann became the first player ever to be red carded in a Champions League Final, Arsenal took the lead through a Sol Campbell header. However, Barcelona’s relentless attacking play eventually paid off, with goals from Samuel Eto’o and Juliano Belletti securing a 2-1 win for the Catalan giants. This was an Arsenal side at the peak of their powers, the side that a year before had become The Invincibles when they went an entire Premier League campaign without losing. The final showcased Barcelona’s intricate passing style and the individual brilliance of players like Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry.
🗓️ On this day, in 2006...
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) May 17, 2023
Barcelona beat Arsenal 2-1 in the Champions League Final.pic.twitter.com/P0w9mnAGKm
2018: Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool
Played in Ukraine at the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, the 2018 final featured a clash between Real Madrid and Liverpool. The match had its fair share of drama, with Mo Salah forced off early with a dislocated shoulder after some rough and tumble with Sergio Ramos. There was a remarkable overhead kick goal from Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale and two horrible goalkeeping errors by Liverpool’s Loris Karius. Real Madrid ultimately claimed a 3-1 victory, securing their third consecutive Champions League title in the process.
Three years ago today, Real Madrid sealed three Champions League titles in a row after beating Liverpool 3-1 in Kiev.
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) May 25, 2021
🏆 #UCL 2016
🏆 #UCL 2017
🏆 #UCL 2018
The final will forever be remembered for Bale's overhead kick, Karius' performance and Ramos' tackle on Salah. 👀 pic.twitter.com/5jJWTPrlsS
