The Champions League final is the biggest game in European club football and you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who thinks otherwise.
It’s the last big showpiece event of the season and it answers an important question – who reigns supreme as the best club on the continent?
Today, with the 2021 final upon us, we’re going to take a look at five of the biggest upsets in the history of this great fixture.
Liverpool – 2005
It just had to be, didn’t it?
This Liverpool side couldn’t, on paper, compete with an AC Milan team full of legends and juggernauts. In the first half that theory turned into reality when Milan raced into a 3-0 lead – only for the Reds to make it 3-3 before a penalty shootout win completed the Miracle of Istanbul.
Chelsea – 2012
They were against Bayern Munich, who were in their home stadium, after a questionable league campaign with many of Chelsea’s top stars on their last legs.
But all of that didn’t matter when Didier Drogba stepped up and, alongside Petr Cech, decided to drag the Blues kicking and screaming all the way to a Champions League title.
AC Milan – 1994
Barcelona were the obvious favourites to beat AC Milan in the 1994 final after winning it in 1992 and capturing four straight LaLiga crowns.
Unfortunately for the Spaniards, Milan overcame a disastrous lead-up to the game and wound up absolutely torching Barca 4-0 in a real “jaw drop” moment for European football.
Borussia Dortmund – 1997
Juventus were the reigning champions but on this famous night in Munich, Borussia Dortmund decided to step out of Bayern’s shadow and claim some glory for themselves.
They completely outmatched Juve and left them stunned, racing out to a 3-1 triumph that won them the trophy.
Manchester United – 1999
Alright, a United victory on the night wasn’t an ‘upset’ as such – the fashion in which they got the win though, means it simply has to make it in.
United entered injury time 1-0 down to Bayern Munich, a team who were in search of the German treble – an achievement the Red Devils were also going after in England.
Then, through Sheringham and Solskjaer, Fergie’s men pulled off one of the most famous nights in the competition’s history.
Featured image credit: Getty
