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Tottenham Hotspur are set to play against Liverpool in Saturday's Champions League Final in the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid. This is only the second time that the final of Europe's premier club competition is to be contested by two English sides. Nevertheless, English sides have met quite often in the knockout phases of the competition, contesting some closely fought matches.
We take a look at the previous instances where English sides met in the knockouts of the Champions League.
Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur (Quarterfinal- 2018/19)
Manchester City 4-4 Tottenham Hotspur (Tottenham progressing on away goals)
A match still fresh in the minds of most Spurs and City supporters, it was a tie which had everything - early goals, late goals, VAR drama, selection controversy and pure, raw emotion. The first leg at Tottenham's new stadium was a tightly contested affair, with Sergio Aguero missing a penalty and Spurs taking the lead through Heung Min Son's well taken goal. The loss added to Pep Guardiola's horrendous record of having won only 4 of his past 22 Champions League knockout away matches. Nevertheless, it meant that the match was evenly poised for the second leg, with most bookmakers favoring City to overturn the deficit and progress to the semis.
The second leg was an instant Champions League classic. Both teams attacked from the start and by the end of the 21st minute, 5 goals had been scored with City leading 3-2. Sergio Aguero then scored in the 59th minute, which meant that Spurs would have to score again to progress. Fernando Llorente bundled the ball over the line from a corner and after a lengthy VAR check for handball, the goal was allowed to stand. City managed to score another in stoppage time, but the goal was disallowed for offside by VAR. Spurs lost the match 4-3, but progressed on away goals.
Liverpool vs Manchester City (Quarterfinal - 2017-18)
Liverpool 5: 1 Manchester City
Pep Guardiola's 2017-18 Manchester City were a formidable side, ruthless in attack and miserly in defense. The first team to score 100 points in the Premier league, they cantered their way to the league and league cup, and were considered by many to be the best team in Europe.
Liverpool had already defeated City once in the league (City's first loss that season), but were still the underdogs coming into the first leg at Anfield. However, some brilliant attacking football from the the home side coupled with City's suicidal high press saw Liverpool take a three goal lead to the Etihad. And although City came flying out of the blocks in the second leg, they were unable to penetrate the Liverpool back line, eventually falling to a a 1-5 aggregate defeat.
Chelsea vs Manchester United (Quarterfinals - 2010-11)
Manchester United 3: 1 Chelsea
Manchester United were the in-form team coming into the match, and led the league by 6 points (which they would eventually go on to win by 9 points). Chelsea, meanwhile had surrendered the top position following a slump during the Christmas period, and were 8 points off the top.
Rooney scored first in the opening leg at Stamford Bridge, giving United the all important away goal. Chelsea had several opportunities to level the score, but some resolute defending and world class goalkeeping by Edwin Van der Sar meant that United had a one-goal lead going into the second game at Old Trafford.
Carlo Ancelloti, the then-Chelsea manager, made the bold call of starting the misfiring Fernando Torres ahead of Didier Drogba in the second leg, a call which backfired as Chelsea made little attacking forays in the first half. By the time Drogba came on in the second half and gave some impetus to the Chelsea attack, United were two goals to the good. Drogba did pull a goal back in the 77th minute, but Park Ji Sung scored immediately from the restart to restore the two goal lead. A second yellow card for Ramires ended Chelsea's hopes of a comeback, and they lost the match 1-2 going out 1-3 on aggregate. Ancelotti was sacked at end of the season, following a trophy-less year.
Liverpool vs Chelsea (Quarterfinals - 2008-09)
Liverpool 5: 7 Chelsea
The two teams were playing a replay of the previous year's semifinals, which Chelsea won in dramatic fashion after extra time. Liverpool clearly had revenge in their minds, and they could not have wished for a better start. Fernando Torres opening the scoring in the 6th minute. That, however, was as good as it got for the home side. Branislav Ivanovic scored two goals from two corners to give Chelsea the lead and Didier Drogba capped off the evening with a third strike in the 67th minute, Chelsea winning the tie 3-1.
Liverpool hadn't given up on the match as yet, and two goals in the first half of the second leg saw them level the tie 3-3, but they were still behind on away goals.Chelsea wiped out the deficit in dramatic fashion, with second half goals from Alex, Drogba and Lampard giving the hosts a 3-2 lead on the night. Liverpool then scored two goals in quick succession in the 81st and 82nd minute and retook the lead. The Reds had 8 minutes to score another and complete a historic turnaround, but Frank Lampard ended their hopes with a goal in the 89th minute. Chelsea went on to lost the semifinal in controversial fashion to Barcelona, while Liverpool ended 4 points behind champions Manchester United in the Premier League.
Manchester United vs Chelsea (Final - 2007-08)
Manchester United 1- 1 Chelsea (United won 6-5 on penalties)
The 2007-08 UEFA Champions League final between Manchester United vs Chelsea was the first (and until this year, only) time two English clubs met in the final of the competition. Chelsea were playing in their first Champions League final, while United were aiming to win the competition for the third time.
The match had a nervy beginning, with neither teams wanting to commit players forward for fear of leaving gaps at the back. It opened up in the 26th minute, after Cristiano Ronaldo's unstoppable header gave United the lead. Oddly, the goal galvanized Chelsea and they started playing more freely. Chelsea were rewarded for their forward thinking at the stoke of halftime, with Lampard scoring to even the match at 1-1.
Chelsea continued to dominate in the second half and extra time, but a combination of good goalkeeping and bad luck (Drogba and Lampard both hit the woodwork), however, meant that the match would be decided through penalties.
John Terry had the chance to win the match for his side, but he slipped while taking the kick, the ball hitting the post. Van der Sar then saved Nicholas Anelka's penalty to win the shootout. United were again the champions of Europe. Roman Abramovich's hopes of a first Champions League title were dashed, and he and Chelsea would have to for four more years before getting to lift the trophy. United haven't won the competition since.
