The UEFA Champions League is undoubtedly the world's most exciting club competition. Over the years, it has become the forefront of European and world football as the world's greatest players go head-to-head, year on year, for an annual feast of footballing heaven. These are my personal top 5 matches from the past 20 years of Champions League action...
Now this may be my top five matches, but this is more about one moment rather than the whole game. Nevertheless, it is totally worthy of a place on this list. A tight match throughout, emphasised by the fact both teams had traded blows within the opening quarter of an hour, with Raul scoring for the favourites before up-and-coming Brazilian defender Lucio headed home a swift equaliser. Just before half-time, history was about to be rewritten - in style. Emphatically volleying a Roberto Carlos cross with his weaker foot, Zinedine Zidane, at the time, the most expensive player in the world, proved his worth as he sent Real to their 2nd European triumph in three years.
5: 15th May 2002, Bayer Leverkusen 1 - 2 Real Madrid, Hampden Park, Glasgow
Now this may be my top five matches, but this is more about one moment rather than the whole game. Nevertheless, it is totally worthy of a place on this list. A tight match throughout, emphasised by the fact both teams had traded blows within the opening quarter of an hour, with Raul scoring for the favourites before up-and-coming Brazilian defender Lucio headed home a swift equaliser. Just before half-time, history was about to be rewritten - in style. Emphatically volleying a Roberto Carlos cross with his weaker foot, Zinedine Zidane, at the time, the most expensive player in the world, proved his worth as he sent Real to their 2nd European triumph in three years.
4: 21st May 2008, Manchester United 1 - 1 Chelsea, Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
The first ever all-English final in the Champions League. Roman goes home to Moscow hoping Avram Grant can deliver the Holy Grail against the sheer might of Fergie and Ronaldo (at the time - if not currently - the best player in the world). The scene was perfectly poised for a classic. A classic it may not have been, from an attacking sense, but the drama throughout makes it one to remember. Lampard's goal cancelling out Ronaldo's forcing extra time, before Drogba's stupid sending off for slapping Vidic, followed by John Terry's infamous penalty miss as Chelsea literally slipped to defeat, giving me oodles of joy that night. Comedy gold.
3: 25th May 2005, AC Milan 3 - 3 Liverpool, Ataturk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul
Not technically in Europe, this one, I might add. Mind you, it was the ultimate comeback. There is no better, dramatic way to win any game, never mind a Champions League final. After conceding the quickest final goal after just 50 seconds, Liverpool seemed dead and buried after a Hernan Crespo double had added to Paolo Maldini's opener before the interval. Switching to three at the back did the trick for Liverpool as they showed their mettle to pull it back level in a crazy 6 minute period before finally prevailing on penalties thanks to some notable spaghetti-legs tactics from not-always reliable Pole, Jerzy Dudek. Best comeback ever, in my eyes.
2: 14th April 2009, Chelsea 4 - 4 Liverpool, Stamford Bridge, London
Proving it's not all about the finals, Chelsea and Liverpool played out an absolute classic at the Bridge. Trailing 3-1 from a shock home defeat in the first-leg, Liverpool had another 90 minutes to grind out a barnstorming comeback levelling on a par with their Champions League victory four years prior. Two set-piece goals from Aurelio and Alonso gave Liverpool a 2-0 advantage at the break, requiring just one more, before a truly amazing second half which saw Chelsea produce a comeback of their own largely thanks to Alex's right boot, before Liverpool remarkably came back to lead again and seven minutes to find a winner, before Frank Lampard scored at the death to bring an end to a match that quite literally see-sawed during 3 hours of breathtaking football.
1: 16th February 2011, Arsenal 2 - 1 Barcelona, Emirates Stadium, London
Well, what did you expect? Quite possibly Arsenal's best ever European night. Even if it didn't mean advancing to the next round, or even enough to keep the best players of this team at the club, this game is by far the most amazing achievement in Arsenal's European history. It was always going to be Arsenal at the top; I could have chosen any game en route to the final in '06, or either of the magical nights we had in the San Siro against both the Milan clubs, but there's no beating this.
For once, the drama lived up to the hype. The two most attractive teams in Europe going head-to-head. Barcelona, the best team in the world, had easily the better team on paper, and what makes the victory even more remarkable is that we did it with Djourou, Bendtner AND Andrey Arshavin. Ironically, the tables were turned from that night in Paris as with 13 minutes remaining, Arsenal staged their comeback. He may be in our bad books now, but Robin Van Persie's goal is just ridiculous. And the break that led to the winner - stunning. From Koscielny, to Bendtner, to Wilshere, to Fabregas, to Nasri, to Arshavin; it's a move and a goal that still gives you goosebumps - just as good as it was the first time. And you can't top that. Nothing can.
Comments
Post a Comment