Top Ten: Champions League finals, featuring Man United’s ’99 win

10. 1967 – Celtic 2 Internazionale 1

Jock Stein’s Celtic, the starting eleven all born within 30 miles of Glasgow, up against the Italian star ridden team who had won the European Cup twice in the last three years. Mazzorla scored first for Internazionale, but with players such as Lennox and Johnstone causing problems for the Italians, they got the equalizer via Tommy Gemmell and on 84 minutes, Paul Chalmers got the winner, and the first British, European club champions were crowned and the Lisbon Lions were born.

9. 2011 – Barcelona 3 Manchester United 1

The final was played at Wembley Stadium and was a final totally dominated by Barcelona, with fantastic flowing football, statistics showed that Barcelona had 22 shots on goal to United’s four. Pedro put Barcelona one up, but United equalized just before half time via Wayne Rooney. Lionel Messi put Barcelona back in front, and David Villa then scored a superb third goal, leaving the Catalan club as the champions.

8. 1969 – AC Milan 4 Ajax 1.

Milan were favourites going into the match, but there were those who believed that the Dutch team with the mercurial talent of Johan Cruyff in the team, and the master tactician of Rinus Michels as manager would go full out attack, however, it was the Italians who took the initiative and attacked at every opportunity. Pierino Prati scoring a hat trick in the final, and is the last man to do this, in a match that shocked all who watched it the offensive tactics the Italians carried out that night.

7. 1999 – Manchester United 2 Bayern Munich 1

A match that completely changed in the last 3 minutes of the match. Bayern one up, seemed destined for victory, then United equalize, and then Solskjaer sweeps in the winner. A great victory for United and the win gave the club the treble that season.

6. 1968 – Manchester United 4 Benfica 1

A game that went into extra time at 1-1, and then 3 goals in extra time, the most memorable was George Best solo run and finish. England had its first club European champions and Sir Matt Busby 10 years after the Munich disaster had rebuilt a team to be European champions.

5. 1962 – Benfica 5 Real Madrid 3

Madrid with Di Stefano and Puskas, up against the reigning champions. The 5 times winners against the reigning champions, a classic was expected and did not let people down. Benfica came from 2-0 down with a young 20 year old striker called Eusebio running riot, and scoring 2 goals.  Puskas scored a first half hat trick but was still not enough. Benfica had retained the cup.

4. 1956 – Real Madrid 4 Stade de Reims 3

The first European cup final, Stade de Reims were two up inside 10 minutes, Madrid then scored via Di Stefano, after 45 minutes the match was at 2-2, but Madrid prevailed. Real Madrid would go onto win the first 5 European cup finals which has not been matched.

3. 1994 – AC Milan 4 Barcelona 0

A star studded Barcelona team managed by Johan Cruyff, playing against a Fabio Capello led Milan team, missing through injury Costacurta, Baresi, Lentini and Van Basten surely only one outcome? Nope, Milan that night were irresistible, completely outplaying Barcelona, the  goal scored by Dejan Savicevic in particular was a thing of beauty.

2. 2005- Liverpool 3 AC Milan 3

Liverpool completely outplayed 3-0 down and only half time, was it going to be a massacre? No, one of the greatest comebacks in football history. Still not sure how it happened, but Liverpool won the European Cup for the fifth time on penalties.

1. 1960 – Real Madrid 7 Eintract Frankfurt 3

Madrid had three upfront of Puskas, Di Stefano and Gento, some fire power there. Frankfurt went one up, but by the time they had scored a second, Madrid had scored 6 times!
The Germans just could not cope with the skill and power of Madrid at Hampden Park that night, Puskas scored four and Di Stefano three, simply thrilling football played.


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