The Champions League (earlier known as the European Cup) has produced some of the most lopsided matchups in club football, where the world’s greatest players, coaches and teams go up against teams from the continent’s smaller teams.
We have seen numerous matchups when the lower ranked club has been on the receiving ends of drubbings. The Champions League is also home to some of the greatest upsets in footballing history, matches where the underdog completely outplayed the favourites and won more than just the match. This list is not about that though.
This is a list of some of those electrifying matchups, where Europe’s biggest didn’t just lose, but were humiliated. It’s a collection of 5 games which the losing side wouldn’t just want to get over, but would ideally want their very existence to be removed from the record books.
#5 Arsenal (5 – 1) Inter Milan - San Siro (Milan), 2003-04
This is one game Arsenal fans will never forget, and will never let you forget about it either. There was a lot in the air leading up to this game. Arsenal needed a result to keep their European hopes alive after Inter had already stunned the Gunners 3-0 in London.
Inter were also the previous season’s beaten semi-finalists and were looking to go deep in that season’s competition. Arsenal were always going to be the underdogs going into this match-up at the San Siro, but like the saying goes ‘adversity brings out the best in men’, and the lack of it, probably makes them slack. That’s exactly what happened in Milan in November 2003.
The Gunners opened the scoring through Henry in the 25th minute. It took 8 minutes and a deflection to bring Inter back to level terms and that’s how it stayed at the half. We don’t know what Wenger told his team at half-time, but whatever he did, surely had the desired impact.
Arsenal came out sharper and hungrier and the second half was all about them. Ljungberg put Arsenal in front in the 49th minute, and with three goals in the last 10-minutes of the regulation 90, Arsenal had produced one of their biggest European wins, that too on foreign soil.
#4 Deportivo La Coruna (4 – 0) AC Milan, Estadio Municipal de Riazor (Deportivo), Quarter-Finals, 2003-04(Milan won first leg 4-1)
Even before the Miracle of Istanbul had happened, Milan fans had already seen the Debacle at Deportivo, a year earlier. Milan had everything going for them in the competition going into the second leg. A lot of big names had been eliminated from the tournament, making Milan massive favorites to capture the trophy.
Milan were also the defending champions and were chasing history in trying to become the first club to retain the Champions League. Most importantly, Milan had a 4-1 aggregate lead that they were taking to Deportivo. Ask any Milan fan, and they’d say they would have been happier with a two-goal cushion, 3 makes it a little tricky when Milan is concerned!
Despite housing one of the meanest defences in the competition, Milan knew they would have their work cut, as Deportivo took the lead as early as the 5th minute when Walter Pandiani struck the back of the net. By half-time, it was already 3-0 and Deportivo lead on away goals. The final blow was inflicted when Fran made the tally 4-0 in the 76th minute and Deportivo were well and truly on their way to the Champions League semi-final.
This wasn’t just one of the greatest comebacks in European history, it was also one of the most humiliating exits for the defending champions.
#3 AC Milan (5 – 0) Real Madrid, San Siro (Milan), Semi-Finals, 1988-89
(First leg tied 1-1)
If there was any doubt of the changing times in European football and its dominant forces, this match established that fact, loud and clear. Real Madrid, the most successful club in continental championships for nearly three and a half decades, were humbled by a rejuvenated Milan side that would go on to be one of the most feared sides for a large part of the next decade.
Milan carried an advantage going into the second leg having come away with an away goal in Madrid, courtesy Marco Van Basten, and the first-leg ended 1-1. What followed in Milan in the second leg is a score-line many find difficult to believe even today. Unlike Italian sides of the past, Arrigo Sacchi’s men believed in not just outscoring opponents, but scoring a flurry of goals. The Milan side also had a lot of attacking outlets and goal-scoring options.
This was exemplified by Milan’s 5-0 thrashing of Real in the second leg at home, with goals coming from 5 different goal scorers. Each member of the Dutch Trio of Death: Marco Van Basten, Frank Rijkaard and Ruud Gullit, had their names on the score sheet, and their goals were flanked on either side by coaches of the future, Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Donadoni.
Milan would go on win the title with another 4-0 drubbing of Steaua Bucharest, and Real would go down in the record books humbled and embarrassed.
#2 Bayern Munich (3 – 0) Barcelona, Camp Nou (Barcelona), Semi-Finals, 2012-13
(Bayern won first leg 4-0)
This 2-leg affair didn’t just shake the footballing world that season, it seemingly signalled the beginning of the resurgence of the Germans in Europe’s premier club competition. Coming in to the Nou Camp, football’s most resilient fortress over the past few years, Bayern had already done half their job.
They had stunned the Catalans 4-0 in Munich, but like they saying goes, ‘ it ain’t over till the fat lady sings’. Bayern had lost to Barcelona at the Nou Camp 4-0 in the 2009 campaign, and Bayern were very aware of that fact.
However, with Messi on the bench, and Bayern playing solid tactical football, Barca could not find an opening in the first 45 minutes in the return leg at home, despite playing their brand of football in short spurts. The next 45 minutes broke a lot of records, a lot of hearts and a lot of betting odds. Robben opened the scoring for the Bavarians inside the first 5 minutes of the second half.
A Gerard Pique own goal and a Thomas Muller header didn’t just seal the deal, it buried the Catalan club. The final 7-0 scoreline on aggregate was one of the most lopsided games in Champions League history, and was also Barca’s worst defeat over 2 legs in European competitions. It was also the first time in Champions League history and the first time since 1987 that Barca had lost both ties in a 2-legged fixture in the European Cup.
Bayern would go on to win the Final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, but the highlight of their campaign will always be the complete demolition of the Barcelona side at both home and away.
1 AC Milan (4 – 0) Barcelona, Olympic Stadium (Athens), Final, 1993-94
There have been other instances of a team emerging victorious by a difference of 4 goals in the European Cup final, but it was usually the team touted to win the trophy. The 1994 final was different though. Milan, despite having a greater legacy and pedigree in Europe’s premier club competition, were considered underdogs in the build-up to Athens.
Captain Franco Baresi and defender Alessandro Costacurta were suspended and Van Basten was out injured. Most believed Milan’s defence would be rattled by the attacking flair of Cruyff’s men. Fabio Capello had plans of his own though, he decided to fight fire with fire, and the result was a one-sided 4-0 score line in favour of the Milan team.
The winners of the 1992 European Cup, the last year of the old format and name were completely outclassed by the runners-up of the 1993 UEFA Champions League, the first year under the new name.
Daniele Massaro found the back of the net twice in the first half, and Savievi and Desailly completed the rout with a goal apiece in the second half. Fabio Capello had three words after the match to describe his team’s performance, “This, is perfection!” This goes down as one of the largest margin upsets in European Cup Finals history to this day.
