Real Madrid vs. Valencia - May 24, 2000
The magnificent Stade de France hosted the first Champions League final between two clubs from the same country. Valencia had beaten Spanish giants Barcelona in the semi-finals while Madrid pipped the previous year’s beaten finalists Bayern to play in their 11th final and their second in three years.
In a quite cagey first half, Spain striker Fernando Morientes broke the deadlock six minutes before halftime after he arrived at the far post to head in Michel Salgado’s improvised cross. Valencia returned to play in the second with much more confidence but were left stunned by a stunning Steve McManaman volley midway through the second half. By the time Raul broke away and rounded up Santiago Canizares eight minutes later, the match was effectively over. Madrid had won a record eighth title and McManaman became the first English player to win the Champions League trophy with a non-English club.
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AC Milan vs. Juventus, May 28, 2003
A newly-expanded Old Trafford was the venue for the second intra-national Champions League final and the first between two Italian teams. The ground’s first European Cup final was between two of Italy's most successful clubs – Juventus and Milan. The Old Lady had trumped the holders, Madrid, in the semi-finals while Milan earned the final spot after sailing through on away goals over city rivals Inter.
It was a game of contrasting halves. Ukrainian legend Shevchenko thought he had put Milan ahead in the opening minutes, only for the goal to be ruled out after Rui Costa was adjudged to have interfered with Buffon’s line of view. Replays showed it was an incorrect call.
Both sides continued to create chances, with Buffon and Dida very busy. If the first half was pulsating, the second was the opposite. Apart from Antonio Conte and Andrea Pirlo hitting the post for both sides, it was a largely cautious game with both teams switching to the notorious defensive mode Italian teams are known for. The game went to extra time and both teams ended the match with ten men because Igor Tudor and Roque Junior were injured and couldn’t be replaced, since they had made all three of their allowed substitutions.
The shootout was mired in controversy among fans. Replays showed both keepers coming off the line before saving penalties. However, officials thought otherwise, and after a couple of misses from both sides, Andriy Shevchenko sent Buffon the wrong way to crown Milan champions of Europe for the sixth time
Manchester United vs. Chelsea - May 21, 2008
The imposing Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow was the venue of the first final between two English clubs. Due to the difference in time zones, the match kicked off late in Moscow, thus becoming the first Champions League final to start on one day and end in the next.
Manchester United made it to the final unbeaten, winning nine and drawing three of their 12 games. A 1-0 aggregate victory over a rampant Barcelona side was enough to take them to Moscow, while Chelsea had to overcome the previous year’s beaten finalist, Liverpool, to make it to their first Champions League final.
Ronaldo headed United into the lead midway through the first half and should have doubled their lead had Carlos Tevez's leg been a few inches longer and connected to a low cross from Wayne Rooney. In the drenching rain, Chelsea soaked up United’s pressure to score on the dot at half-time, with Frank Lampard finding the back of the net with a lucky, simple finish. It was United’s turn to be on the back foot in the second half as Chelsea came out of the blocks.
However, after Didier Drogba and Lampard struck the posts late in the game and in extra time respectively, the match was destined for a penalty shootout. But not before the Ivorian was sent off for violent conduct – becoming only the second player (after Jens Lehmann) to be sent in a Champions League final.
After United's hero Ronaldo missed his spot kick, it was up to Chelsea captain John Terry to make the Blues European champions for the first time. But he managed to slip as he took his kick, sending the ball wide. Edwin van der Sar then saved from Nicolas Anelka in sudden death to secure a third European crown for Manchester United.
Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich - May 25, 2013
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the English FA, the legendary Wembley Stadium hosted the first all-German final and a second Champions League final in three years. Dortmund were playing in their second final after pipping Juventus to the title 16 years earlier. Bayern were coasting to a European treble, having won the Bundesliga and booked a spot in the final of the German Cup.
Dortmund fired out of the blocks first, forcing Manuel Neuer into a string of excellent saves in the first half hour of a throbbing encounter which eventually ended goalless. Man of the Match Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery combined to set up Mario Mandzukic for the opener right on the hour mark. The match had come alive.
The lead, however, was short-lived. A few minutes later, a clumsy wild challenge by Dante on Dortmund forward Marco Reus in the box left the referee with no choice but to award a penalty. Ilkay Gundogan duly sent Manuel Neuer the wrong way. With the score tied at 1-1, the match went into frenzy mode, with Bayern missing chance after chance, with Robben the most culpable.
The Bavarian club thought they had taken the lead in the in the 72nd minute after Thomas Muller had rounded up Roman Weidenfeller, only for defender Neven Subotic to throw in a truly sensational last-ditch tackle to stop a definite goal on the line. A few minutes later, Robert Lewandoski fired from 25 yards into the top corner but the referee had blown for handball.
As the game entered its final minutes, chances began to dry up as both sides exercised caution to avoid a late defeat. Robben, however, had other ideas. Entering the last minute of normal time, the hitherto wasteful Dutchman latched on to a pass from Ribery, cut through the defense and squibbed a low shot into the far corner off the post to send the men in red into raptures. Bayern went on to win the German Cup to round out a remarkable season.
Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid - May 24, 2014
The beautiful Estadio da Luz (Stadium of Light) was the host of the second all-Spanish Champions League final and the first from clubs in the same city – the Madrid Derby between Real and Athletico. Real, gunning for La Decima (The 10th title) pummeled defending champions Bayern 5-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals, while Atletico, who had just won the La Liga title for the first time in 18 years, drowned Chelsea in the other tie to earn their first final in 40 years.
Atletico suffered a major blow after star striker Diego Costa suffered a relapse of an injury and was taken off after eight minutes. Real seized the initiative but missed a flurry of chances. Atletico made them pay when captain Diego Godin put a freak header past Iker Casillas to give Diego Simeone’s men the advantage before heading into the tunnel.
As expected, Real came out after the interval in search of a leveler but were rebuffed by a resolute Athletico defense until the third minute of stoppage time, when Sergio Ramos rose highest to plant a brilliant header into the corner.
Extra time beckoned.
It was all Real Madrid in extra time as the Athletico backline looked tired and capitulated. Three goals in 30 minutes made the scoreline an unjust reflection of Athletico’s steely performance but Real didn’t care. They secured their 10th title in the first Champions League final that went into extra time without requiring a penalty shootout.
Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid - May 28, 2016
The iconic San Siro in Milan was the venue for the second installment of the Madrid Derby in a Champions League final, the second for both teams in three years. Real had nudged past Manchester City in the semi-final with a solitary goal while Athletico squeezed past Barcelona on away goals. It was the first final to employ goal line technology.
Real got onto a blistering start when midfielder Casemiro’s shot was cleared off the line by Jan Oblak. A few minutes later, they were ahead, albeit in controversial fashion as skipper Ramos bundled the ball over the line from what appeared to be an offside position. Real went into the break in the lead and maintained their advantage until 10 minutes from time when substitute Yannick Carrasco prodded home from close range to send the game into extra time. Griezmann had missed a spot kick earlier.
Scores remained even in a tightly contested extra time, and unlike two years ago, it went into a penalty shootout. Juan Fran was the only player to miss, thus setting the scene for superstar Ronaldo to hand the Spanish giants their 11th Champions League crown. The Portuguese duly obliged, sending Oblak the wrong way, making the fans in white go ballistic.
Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur - June 1, 2019
The newly renovated Wanda Metropolitano Stadium was the venue of the second final to have two English teams. It was the first one in five years not featuring a Spanish side, as either Real Madrid or Barcelona had won the previous five finals. Tottenham were making their debut in a Champions League final while Liverpool were playing in consecutive finals and their ninth overall.
Both got to the final in sensational style. Spurs scored a last-gasp winner against Ajax to clinch the tie on away goals whilst Liverpool came from three goals down in the first leg to stun Barcelona 4-0 at Anfield.
The match was the first to employ a Video Assistant Referee system. Incredibly, Liverpool were awarded a penalty after just 24 seconds as Spurs midfielder Moussa Sissoko was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box. Mohamed Salah dispatched the spot kick to score the second-fastest goal in Champions League final history.
Apart from a pitch invader in the first half, it was a game with few chances until late in the second half when substitute Divock Origi pounced on a loose ball and fired a low shot into the bottom corner to effectively end the game. Liverpool were European champions for a sixth time.
