The 5 greatest Champions League finals since 1960

“If you want to leave footprints in the sands of time, don't drag your feet”. (Annot. L. Sheppard )

On Saturday Internazionale takes on Bayern Munich in the prestigious Santiago Bernabeau Stadium in Madrid and as much as I hope that the Italian giants would be victorious (for future Italian Champions League place`s sake) I somehow fail to get overly excited about it. Last year I couldn`t wait to see Barcelona v Manchester United and equally nail biting were the previous finals for as long as I can remember. Despite one of Mourinhno`s very recent cringe worthy attempts to talk up the fixture (Tziz game is ahhhh, more important then thze World Cup final....) for me it still undeniably lacks the spark those previous finals had possessed. I could be wrong, but I have watched nearly all Champions League games this season, and nothing bored me more then the footballing nightmares these two teams have produced occasionally. Inter – CSSKA or Bayern - Lyon anyone?

Instead I have revisited my 5 favourite Champions League finals of all time that not only captured my attention but have entertained millions of football fans around the world, caused endless joy as well as never healing heartache.

18^th of May 1960, Hampden Park Glasgow.

Real Madrid 7 Eintracht Frankfurt 3
Real Madrid: Dominguez, Marquitos, Santamaria, Pachin, Zarraga (capt), Vidal, Canario, Del Sol, Di Stefano, Puskas, Gento
Scorers: Puskas 4, Di Stefano 3
Eintracht Frankfurt: Loy, Lutz, Eigenbrodt, Hofer, Weilbacher, Stinka, Kress, Lindner, Stein, Pfaff (capt), Meier
Scorers: Stein 2, Kress

This game is still regarded as one of the greatest Champions League (officially it was called European Cup back then) finals of all time, won by possibly the greatest team ever; Real Madrid. Even back then the Los Blancos have attracted the best of the best of the footballing world, whereas Eintracht Frankfurt was very much a homegrown German team. This much anticipated final did not exactly started according to Real`s plans as the Germans took the well deserved lead at the 18^th minute through a wonderful volley courtesy of Kress. Spectators all over the world had to be blind not to notice that Madrid was playing well below their best. However order was restored quickly when the magnificent Alfredo Di Stefano finally took control of the events, went on to score a head trick himself, while close friend and teammate Ferenc Puskas added another 4 goals to ensure that they can lift the clubs 5^th consecutive European Cup trophy. Real Madrid celebrated in front of a record breaking 127 621 fans and finally it was official: they were on the top of the world.

26^th of May 1999, Nou Camp, Barcelona

Manchester United 2 – Bayern Munich 1

Manchester United: Peter Schmeichel; Gary Neville, Jaap Stam, Ronny Johnsen, Denis Irwin, David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Jesper Blomqvist (Teddy Shearingham -- 67), Ryan Giggs, Andy Cole (Ole Gunnar Solskjaer -- 81), Dwight York.

Bayern Munich: Oliver Kahn; Lothar Matthaeus (Thorsten Fink -- 80), Sammy Kuffour, Thomas Linke, Markus Babbel, Jens Jeremies, Michael Tarnat, Stefan Effenberg, Mario Basler (Hasan Salihamidzic -- 90), Carsten Jancker, Alexander Zickler (Mehmet Scholl -- 71)

There is no doubt that the last Champions League final of the 20^th Century has lived up to all its expectations. Manchester United without the suspended Roy Keane and Paul Scholes needed to rely on two of their substitutes to create history, and become the first team to win this much coveted title having failed to be champions in their own country in the previous season. As Lothar Mattheus famously said: "it was not the best team that won but the luckiest."For the biggest part of the game United were riding their luck indeed. Both injury time goals came after corner kicks delivered by David Beckham. First Teddy Sheringham managed to send the ball into the net after the Bayern defence`s failed clearance attempt, then Ole Gunnar Solskjaer slammed the ball from a close range to send United fans all over the world into frantic frenzy. It was heartbreaking to see how the Bayern players couldn`t even pick themselves up from the ground anymore to restart the game. All German hopes were demolished by then..

The triple crown achieved by the Red Devils that season was a rare one: they were only the third club behind Celtic (1967) and Ajax (1972) to repeat a truly remarkable performance.

24 of May, 2002, Hampden Park, Glasgow

Real Madrid 2 - Bayer Leverkusen 1

Real Madrid: 13-Cesar (1-Iker Casillas 68); 2-Michel Salgado, 4-Fernando Hierro, 6-Ivan Helguera, 3-Roberto Carlos; 21-Santiago Solari, 24-Claude Makelele (16-Flavio Conceicao 73); 5-Zinedine Zidane, 10-Luis Figo (8-Steve McManaman 61); 7-Raul, 9-Fernando Morientes

Bayer Leverkusen: 1-Hans-Joerg Butt; 35-Diego Placente, 26-Zoltan Sebescen (9-Ulf Kirsten 65), 19-Lucio (3-Marko Babic 90), 6-Boris Zivkovic; 25-Bernd Schneider, 28-Carsten Ramelow, 13-Michael Ballack, 10-Yildiray Basturk; 27-Oliver Neuville, 23-Thomas Brdaric (12-Dimitar Berbatov 39)

Scorers:

Real Madrid - Raul 9, Zinedine Zidane 45

Bayer Leverkusen - Lucio 14

This was Real Madrid`s third European Cup win in 5 years, their 9^th European title, and who would have thought that this also was their last for the coming 8 years, at least. Throughout the campaign Leverkusen was hailed as a breath of fresh air in the competition and were duly recognized for their greatness after eliminating all 3 English teams on their way to the final (Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United).

This final will also be remembered as a close one, very little separating the two teams, and for Madrid needing a magical moment from Zinadine Zidane to win the biggest prize of all in its centenary year.

Raul opened the goal scoring from a long throw by Roberto Carlos, but their joy was short lived as Brazilian defender Lucio was first to arrive to head home Bernd Schneider`s free kick, just 5 minutes later to provide Leverkusen with the equaliser. Everything we knew about football has changed in the 45<sup>th</sup> minute: Zidane`s goal, without any doubt is the most beautiful goal ever scored in the history of Champions League. Maybe the game didn`t live up to the final, held in the same stadium 42 years earlier. But under the watchful eyes of some of the players from the 1960 squad, the class of 2002 did them proud. Winner in the first five seasons between 1956 and 1960, Real Madrid also triumphed 1966, 1998 and 2000. This was their 12^th final, and surely the one to remember.

26^th of May, 2004, Arena AufSchalke , Gelsenkirchen

AS Monaco 0- Porto 3

Monaco: Flavio Roma,Hugo Benjamin Ibarra, Rodriguez, Givet, Patrice Evra, Jibril Cisse, Lucas Bernardi, Akis Zikos, Ludovic Giuly, Jerome Rothen, Fernando Morientes, (Carlos Alberto, Dmitri Alenichev)

Porto: Vitor Baia, Ricardo Carvalho, Jorge Costa, Nuno Valente, Paulo Ferreira, Costinha, Maniche, Pedro Mendes, Deco, Derlei, Carlos Alberto

Scorers:

Porto – Deco, Carlos Alberto, Dmitri Alenichev

As always when Mourinho is involved the build up to this final in 2004 was also all about the managers: Jose Mourinho and Didier Deschamps. Both Monaco and Porto came to the final as underdogs, but also on the back of some remarkable results. Monaco has overturned a 4-2 deficit to knock out nine-time champions Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, then defeated Chelsea to set up a not so mouth watering finale with FC Porto. Porto themselves were very impressive against Manchester United in Old Trafford but had to rely on a penalty to overcome Spain`s Deportivo.

It wasn`t the most entertaining of finals despite the Portuguese side scoring 3 goals. It was a hard laboured win for Mourinho`s side, but it was the first time that after years of domination the finalist this time around wasn`t a well known Italian, English or Spanish club. The Special One was born.

25^th of May 2005, Atatürk Stadium, Istanbul

Liverpool 3 - Milan 3 (AET, Liverpool won on penalties)

Liverpool: Dudek, Finnan (Hamann 46), Traore, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Gerrard, Luis Garcia, Alonso, Kewell (Smicer 23), Baros (Cisse 85).
Subs Not Used: Carson, Josemi, Nunez, Biscan.

AC Milan: Dida, Cafu, Maldini, Stam, Nesta, Gattuso (Rui Costa 112), Seedorf (Serginho 86), Pirlo, Kaka, Shevchenko, Crespo (Tomasson 85).
Subs Not Used: Abbiati, Kaladze, Costacurta, Dhorasoo

Scorers:

Milan: Maldini 1, Crespo 39, 44.

Liverpool: Gerrard 54, Smicer 56, Alonso 59

One of the biggest heartache any Milan fan ever had to endure came on the night of the 25^th of May 2005. Until today I cannot comprehend how the events have unfolded in front of our very eyes and this game is certainly the one to forget for Rossoneri fans all over the world. At the other hand it has to be the most remarkable comeback ever witnessed, and Liverpool truly deserved to be regarded as extraordinary.

It is fair to say that Liverpool were easily outclassed by the supreme Milan side, who were cruising 3-0 at half time. No one in their wildest dreams could have imagined that Liverpool had it in them to sensationally overturn this game and clinch the unlikely victory. Sadly for Milan fans that is exactly what happened. In the second half within seven minutes the Rossoneri dream was over and despite a sublime performance in extra time, Milan were unable to capitalize on their dominance. Dudek has excelled throughout the game but he truly became a hero by saving penalties from Andrea Pirlo and Andriy Shevchenko in the famous shoot out. Milan`s humiliation was complete. One could never forget watching every Milan fan`s idol Paolo Maldini tearing off his looser`s medal in despair. Who could`ve blamed him?

(Of course this story wouldn`t be complete without mentioning Milan`s revenge in the 2007 final in Athens, when finally some pride has been restored.)

This year final is less than 48 hours away and despite what I said at the beginning, of not particulalry being a big fan of either of the participating teams, of course I am looking forward to it. Who knows may be it will be magical, but somehow I doubt it. However any team who reaches the final of this prestigious competition undoubtedly deserves respect, and for that reason Bayern Munich and Internazionale, we salute you.