The 5 best UEFA Champions League finals

# 4: 2016: Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid (1-1 AET) on penalties

Madrid hoist aloft their 2nd Champions League title in 3 years

Two years after Real beat Atletico in the 2014 final in Lisbon, the two crosstown rivals met in the 2016 Champions League final at the San Siro in Milan.

Unlike two years ago, it was Real who opened the scoring courtesy Sergio Ramos at the quarter-hour mark. Real's attacking BBC trifecta of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, and Cristiano Ronaldo looked impressive in attack but didn't hesitate to put in the dirty work by dropping deep to cut off the supply to the Atletico frontline as the Bernabeu side led 1-0 at the break.

It looked like it would be Real's night when Antoinne Greizmann blazed a second-half penalty into the woodwork but Belgian Yannick Carrasco's composed finish ten minutes from time brought about a deserved equaliser for the hardworking Rojiblancos. For the second time in three years, a Real-Atletico Champions League final would need extra-time.

There were no goals from either side in the thirty extra minutes before a penalty shootout materialised. The first seven players all scored before Atletco's Juanfran hit the post, allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to step up and score the winning spotkick to seal an 'undecima' for the Bernabeu club as Atletico became the first side to lose their first three Champions League finals (also 1974, 2014).

About the author

Bhargav is a veteran sports journalist and editor at Sportskeeda, with a rich professional experience of 17 years, working for the likes of Siemens and Bombay Dyeing. An avid football and tennis follower for over three decades, Bhargav uses his vast knowledge and experience, attention to detail, an unbiased yet interesting writing style, and thorough research to craft insightful articles, which have raked in over 20 million reads so far.

Bhargav supports Italy at national level, a team steeped in tradition and history according to him. He still harbors the heartbreak from the Azzurri’s 1994 FIFA World Cup final defeat against Brazil, and protagonist-turned-antagonist from the game, ‘Divine Ponytail’ Roberto Baggio is his all-time favorite player. His favorite manager is Marcelo Lippi, who ended Italy’s 24-year wait for the World Cup trophy, winning it in 2006.

Outside Europe’s top five leagues, he follows the MLS following Lionel Messi’s move in 2023 but favors Cristiano Ronaldo in the G.O.A.T. debate. During his free time, Bhargav enjoys driving off to new places and singing.

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Edited by shekhar