The Best Champions League Finals In History

After another gruelling competition, the stage has been set for Paris Saint-Germain and Inter to go head to head with the UEFA Champions League title up for grabs.

With two of the most entertaining teams in Europe facing off on the biggest stage, many expect fireworks from the first whistle.

As we approach the end of another UEFA Champions League campaign, we’ve decided to have a look at some of the very best finals the tournament has had to offer.

Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid (2014)

The first ever UEFA Champions League final between two teams from the same city was nothing short of entertaining. Atlético Madrid walked into the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon as underdogs but took a surprising lead 36 minutes into the contest through Diego Godin.

Diego Simone’s side held the lead until stoppage time, where Sergio Ramos levelled the scoring to take it to extra time. The game was turned on its head firing extra time, an Atletico side who were so close to European glory conceded three times in short succession to hand the title over to their city rivals.

ON THIS DAY: In 2014, Real Madrid beat Atlético Madrid 4-1 after extra time to win the Champions League.

La Decima. 🔟 pic.twitter.com/NdhG2MfgiV

— Football Factly (@FootballFactly) May 24, 2017

Goals from Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo helped Real Madrid secure their tenth Champions League trophy.

Barcelona 2-0 Manchester United (2009)

Barcelona put the footballing world on notice in 2009 when they managed to make easy work of reigning champions Manchester United at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Pep Guardiola’s side fluid, possession-based football was too much for United to handle as goals from Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi were enough for Barcelona to complete the treble, becoming the first Spanish side to achieve such a feat - having already won La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

On this day, in 2009, Barcelona beat Manchester United 2-0 to win the Champions League and complete the treble in Pep Guardiola's debut season at the club. 🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/669N8EWQJB

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) May 26, 2021

The win meant that Barcelona had won the competition for a third time and cemented the 2009 squad as one of the greatest teams in history.

Manchester United vs Bayern Munich (1999)

Manchester United continued their reign of dominance in 1999 when they became the first club to complete the treble, defeating Bayern Munich 2-1 at the Camp Nou.

Having gone behind Basler's effort, Manchester United would steal the title from under Bayern’s noses in stoppage time as Sheringham equalised in the 91st minute before Solskjaer’s strike two minutes later brought the Champions League trophy to England.

Liverpool vs AC Milan (2005)

Known by the footballing world as ‘that night in Istanbul’, this clash has been described by many as the greatest UEFA Champions League final in history.

Having trailed 3-0 at half-time, Liverpool would need a miracle if they wished to bring the trophy back to Merseyside.

An inspired Liverpool side would come out of the half-time break with a new sense of motivation as goals from captain Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Šmicer and Xabi Alonso took a game which seemed dead to extra time.

On this day 11 years ago May 25th 2005 Liverpool won the Champions league for 5th time Football's greatest comeback pic.twitter.com/S7VrfeOVHc

— Ben Marshall (@xBennnM) May 25, 2016

Liverpool would go on to win the contest on penalties by a margin of 3-2 to complete the upset, winning their fifth Champions League title.