The 5 best UEFA Champions League finals

Modified Nov 29, 2019 13:13 GMT

Liverpool celebrate their 2018-19 UEFA Champions League title Real Madrid celebrate their La Decima in 2014

# 3: 1994: AC Milan beat Barcelona 4-0

AC Milan celebrate their 1994 Champions League title

Having won their 4th Liga title on the trot, Barcelona were the favourites to lift their second Champions League in three years when they faced AC Milan in the 1994 final in Athens.

Milan hardly had the ideal build-up to the title match, with their star striker Marco Van Basten a long-term absentee due to injury, the world's then most-expensive footballer, midfielder Gianluigi Lentini was also out injured, and captain Franco Baresi and defender Alessandro Costacurta were both suspended for the final.

It was the unfancied Milan side which started strongly as the match got underway, as Daniele Massano opened the scoring and doubled the Italian team's lead on the cusp of halftime.

Two minutes into the second period, the excellent Dejan Savisevic produced a brilliant lob to beat the Barcelona keeper Andoni Zubizarreta. The match ceased to be a contest when Marcel Dessaily beat the off-side trap to score Milan's fourth of the night as the Rossoneri lifted their 5th European Cup / Champions League title in their 7th final.

About the author

Bhargav is a veteran sports journalist and editor at Sportskeeda, with a rich professional experience of 17 years, working for the likes of Siemens and Bombay Dyeing. An avid football and tennis follower for over three decades, Bhargav uses his vast knowledge and experience, attention to detail, an unbiased yet interesting writing style, and thorough research to craft insightful articles, which have raked in over 18 million reads so far.

Bhargav supports Italy at national level, a team steeped in tradition and history according to him. He still harbors the heartbreak from the Azzurri’s 1994 FIFA World Cup final defeat against Brazil, and protagonist-turned-antagonist from the game, ‘Divine Ponytail’ Roberto Baggio is his all-time favorite player. His favorite manager is Marcelo Lippi, who ended Italy’s 24-year wait for the World Cup trophy, winning it in 2006.

Outside Europe’s top five leagues, he follows the MLS following Lionel Messi’s move in 2023 but favors Cristiano Ronaldo in the G.O.A.T. debate. During his free time, Bhargav enjoys driving off to new places and singing.

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Edited by shekhar