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Time and again, lower ranked teams have played out of their skins to defend, attack and win against the heavy weights of European football. Every year the Champions League kicks off with a baffling anticipation ofa possible upset. Over the years it has been seen, this run down of the smaller teamsbeating the much superior teams is somethingwhich we can always count on.Note: The matches are not ranked in any particular order
#1 AS Monaco 3-1 Real Madrid
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The 2003-2004 Champions League campaign was marked for its growing upsets. Nine-times champions, Real Madrid had walked their way to an impressive 4-2 victory at the Bernabeau, only to be beaten by a vibrant Monaco side 3-1, in the second leg of the quarter-final. Didier Deschamps' side advanced to the semi finals thanks to the away goal rule.
#2 Deportivo La Coruna 4-0 AC Milan
Another astonishing upset of the 2003-04 Champions League season,was the match between Deportivo La Coruna and AC Milan. The Rossoneri were cruising and had already put one foot in semi final with their diaplay at the San Siro, when they defeated their opponents 4-1. Tables turned wondrously for the Brancoazuis, as they went on to make a famous come back and beat an unheeded Milan 4-0.
#3 Marseille 1-0 AC Milan
A strong Milan side which had the likes of Paolo Maldini, Frank Rijkaard, Marco van Basten and Franco Baresi, were clear favourites to win Champions League for the fifth time. The tie against the Les Phoceens in 1992-93 came as a surprise, as Olympique de Marseille, the dark horse of the tournament went on to win the final, the only French team to date that holds the prestigious Champions League Trophy.
#4 Borussia Dortmund 31 Juventus
The Old Lady succumbed to an impressive show by the The Black and Yellows in the finals of the 1996-97 Champions League. Paul Lambert elevated his game to closely man mark Zinedine Zidane who was unable to parade his usual genius. The defending champions were shattered and never looked to be in control as Dortmund went on to win a historic game and their only Champion League trophy.
#5 Steaua Bucuresti 00 Barcelona (Penalties 2-0)
Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Seville in 1985-86 witnessed an extraordinary exhibition by the Ro-Albatrii’s keeper Helmuth Duckadam, where he saved all the penalties in the final of the European Cup and gave Steaua Bucuresti their maiden Champions League trophy. Duckadam was later dubbed as "The Hero of Seville" for his man of the match performance. The final was a dull affair until the penalties and Barcelona failed to add a trophy in what was seen as their best chance to do so.
#6 Manchester United 1-1 FC Porto
Already defeated 2-1 at the hands of Porto in the first leg of the round of 16 in 2003-2004, the Red Devils, were expected to make a comeback at Old Trafford. Having scored an away goal at Estadio das Antas, United went ahead in the second leg when Paul Scholes headed past Baia from the near post.
1-0 and 2-2 on aggregate, Manchester United were all set to advance when they got a taste of their own medicine; a 90th minute winner from Porto. Costinha scored in the dying stages of the game to make it 3-2 on aggregate and the famous Jose Mourinho celebration followed.
#7 Barcelona 1-2 Rubin Kazan
A catastrophic failure for Barca came on October 20, 2009 in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. The match was held at Camp Nou to add more disappointment and frustration to the defending champions. Rubin Kazan became the easternmost team to play in the competition having not qualified earlier. They couldn’t have asked for more to announce their arrival at the biggest tournament of Europe.
#8 Deportivo La Coruna 2-0 Arsenal
On 12 March, 2002 Deportivo qualified for the quarterfinals of the Champions League, with a dramatic 2-0 victory over the Gunners at Highbury. This ended Arsenal’s three-month home unbeaten record and also their European unbeaten run at Highbury under Arsene Wenger's regime.
#9 BATE Borisov 3-1 Bayern Munich
The Bavarians were overhauled 3-1 by an emergent Borisov squad in the group stage of 2012-13 Champions League competition. Bayern Munich improved after this game to eventually win the Champions League and hailed Bate Borisov to their outstanding performance, changing their perception of unknown teams. But Borisov never made it past the group stage of the competition after losing to Valencia twice.
#10 Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan (Penalties 3-2)
The greatest comeback ever is also one of the greatest upsets in the history of the Champions League. This is how Milan lined up in the 2004-05 Champions league final against Liverpool : Dida, Cafu, Jaap Stam, Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini (c), Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso, Clarence Seedorf, Kaká, Andriy Shevchenko and Hernán Crespo.
Almost every one of them is a Milan legend. A lot has already been said about this game and it needs no further description. Liverpool, down 3-0 in the first half, played out of their wits to bring the scores level thanks to goals from Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso. With nothing separating them after extra-time, Dudek came to Liverpool's resuce, saving Shevchenko's final penalty to give Liverpool their fifth European title.
