The Champions League is undoubtedly the most important club tournament, where the best teams in Europe compete for one of the most prestigious titles in the sport. Throughout its history, the Champions League has produced memorable finals, with heroic comebacks, but also embarrassing defeats that fans would rather forget. Europe's two best teams face each other in a grand final, giving rise to a myriad of anecdotes
Since 1955, the year of its foundation according to the French sports newspaper L'Équipe, the club that has won the most trophies is Real Madrid, with 13 titles. It is followed by AC Milan with 7 trophies and tied with 6 titles are Bayern Munich and Liverpool. Then, there is FC Barcelona with 5 and Ajax with 4 cups. Spain is the country with the most titles with a total of 18, followed by the English teams with 13 trophies and the Italians with 12.
After this short list, to keep you entertained by remembering the most epic matches, we have prepared a TOP 5 with the best Champions League finals played so far. How many do you remember?
Best Champions League final
5. AC Milán 4 - 0 FC Barcelona, 1994
Johan Cruyff's Barcelona against Fabio Capello's Milan. The Catalan club were considered favourites from the beginning, as they were in the middle of the Cruyff era and his 'Dream Team', but the result was not as expected. Milan dominated the match from the beginning and managed to beat one of the best teams of all time with an avalanche of goals from Daniele Massaro, Dejan Savicevic and Marcel Desailly.
4. FC Barcelona 3 - 1 Manchester United, 2011
Barça were superior throughout the match, but what makes this final special is the incredible play of the Catalans. Even Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson said they faced the best team of his career. Goals from Pedro, Messi and David Villa for Barcelona; and Rooney for Manchester United. A victory that brought the third Champions League title for FC Barcelona.
3. Real Madrid 4 - 1 Atlético de Madrid, 2014
Simeone's Atlético, as well as reaching the Champions League final, had managed to win the Spanish league that season. But, in the final, they had to face a team, Real Madrid, eager to win their long-awaited tenth cup. Atlético Madrid took the lead with a header from Diego Godin and managed to keep it for most of the match until the 93rd minute. It was in stoppage time that Sergio Ramos equalised for the Blancos, and they managed to reach extra time, where Bale, Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo scored three goals to give Real Madrid 'la décima' against their great rivals.
2. Manchester United 2 - 1 Bayern de Múnich, 1999
Manchester United beat Bayern Munich in one of the best Champions League finals in living memory to become the first English club to win the treble. The Germans took the lead after just six minutes through Mario Basler and, although they did not dominate the game, they managed to hold on until the first minute of extra time. It was then that Teddy Sheringham equalised to the anguish of the Bayern fans. What nobody could have expected was that in the 93rd minute, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with a goal from the spot, would score and give the English the win.
1. AC Milán 3 - 3 Liverpool (2 - 3 penaltis), 2005
Milan, the clear favourites to win the final, took a 3-0 lead in an extraordinary first half, with goals from Paolo Maldini in the first minute and two more from Hernan Crespo. But, after the break, in eight epic minutes Liverpool managed to tie the game with goals from Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso. The tension went all the way to penalties, where Liverpool prevailed in a heart-stopping game that has since been remembered as 'the miracle of Istanbul', the city where the 2005 final was played
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