Greatest Champions League Finals Of The Last 30 Years As City Join The Treble Winning Club
The Champions League final, played between Manchester City and Inter Milan, has now taken place on Saturday, June 10 – it promised to be quite a treat and it delivered. You can read all about it in this gallery.
In terms of footballing drama, it doesn’t get much more high-stakes than the Champions League final – except for, perhaps, the World Cup final.
We’ll be taking a look back at four of the best Champions League finals since 1993. We’ve seen a number of hard-fought finals since then – but which were the best?
For this list, we will be focusing solely on entertainment factor. Champions League finals aren’t always entertaining – but these 5 climatic clashes certainly were.
Real Madrid Vs Atletico Madrid (2014)
This isn’t the only Madrid derby to have taken place during a Champions League final – but it is definitely the most dramatic.
Los Blancos were 1-0 down in added time – only for club legend Sergio Ramos to rise from a corner and head the ball into the back of the net.
The game was forced into extra time, as Atletico crumbled. Gareth Bale scored on the 110th minute, as Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo completed their comeback.
Real Madrid Vs Liverpool (2018)
Another high-drama Champions League final, another Real Madrid victory – long-time fans of football will know that this is usually how things go.
This game featured two goals of major note. The first was scored by Gareth Bale – the Welshman unleashed a dipping bicycle kick that flew into the back of the net.
The second, however, lives in infamy. After Loris Karius had gifted Madrid the lead with a shocking error, he then dropped the ball into his own net from a long-range effort. Nevertheless, it was a final that had everything you could ask for.
Manchester United Vs Bayern Munich (1999)
1999, Manchester United made history as they collected a treble of trophies – the most dramatic of which was their Champions League final win over Bayern Munich.
While the Champions League final between Manchester United and Bayern Munich gave us arguably one of the greatest moments in football history, the rest of the match was relatively ordinary.
Munich looked set to cruise to a 1-0 win, until Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer turned the game on its head at the death. A spectacular moment, for sure – but is it the greatest Champions League final of all time? We feel there’s one even better.
Liverpool Vs AC Milan (2005)
Could it really be anything else? Liverpool’s comeback win over AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final is widely regarded as one of the greatest games of football ever – and for good reason.
At half time, 3-0 down, the Reds looked dead and buried. Despite this, they pulled off an inspirational comeback to force the game into a penalty shoot out.
Goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek pulled off a pair of stunning saves to deny Milan from the spot – giving Liverpool their fifth Champions League trophy.
Manchester City Vs Inter Milan (2023)
Manchester City have gone through a great deal heartache at the hands of Real Marid in recent Champions League games. In the 2022 Champions League semi-final City famously conceded 2 injury time goals and were knocked out by Carlo Ancelotti’s Los Blancos breaking all City’s fans’ hearts again.
This year City conquered Madrid in the semi-final gaining revenge for previous years. However, just like when City lost to Chelsea in the 2021 Champions League Final, at the start of the Man City Vs Inter Milan Final on June 10th, 2023 in Istanbul, Pep’s players struggled to find any rhythm.
The impressive Simone Inzaghi had his players pressing City high up the pitch and Guardiola’s men could not create any clear-cut chances or enjoy any meaningful possession. In fact it was Milan who looked more dangerous without ever really threatening Ederson.
When Kevin de Bruyne came off on 36 minutes with a hamstring tear he had been playing with, it looked ominous since City just could not get control of the game. Halftime could not come fast enough for Pep Guardiola to speak to his team despite substitute Phil Foden looking sharp and incisive after replacing the Belgian midfield general.
After the break, City looked more lively with Phil Foden providing energy and urgency and it was his skill that provided a deflected cutback on 68 minutes which Rodri calmly placed into the right hand side of the net. It was a pure strike from the Spanish international leaving Milan keeper Andre Onana rooted to the ground. The goal sent the City faithful into delirium as they were starting to really believe it was their night.
City then tried to play a smart game, shutting up shop with possession based football however they did need Ederson to make a point-blank save as the clock wound down. Lady luck was on their side as former Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku had his goal-bound header from the rebound blocked by his own player.
The whistle sounded and City fans went crazy along with all the players, support staff, coaching staff and owners plus all their families. Many players were very emotional on both sides as Inter Milan did not really deserve to lose.
Man City had the one quality chance and Rodri provided a clinical finish giving the club their first Champions League title. Pep Guardiola finally won the trophy that had eluded him so far at the Etihad.
Dramatic and impressive though City’s treble is, Manchester United’s treble including their Champions League Final victory Vs Bayern Munich in 1999 under Sir Alex Ferguson still trumps their neighbours’ accomplishment.