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The UEFA Champions League is regarded as the foremost and the best club competition across the globe. A stage set for the clash of titans, a.k.a the biggest clubs in the world, the Champions League is a delight for the fans to watch from all over the world. It is the arena where the ultimate football giants battle it out against each other to prove their supremacy in the footballing world.
The winner of this enchanting contest also stamps its authority as the best football club in the world for the particular year.
Nothing gives the fans a better adrenaline rush than a clash that goes down to the wire. Last-minute goals, surprise upsets, and historic match-winning displays create the best memories for football spectators. Over the years, the Champions League has witnessed clashes that have mesmerized people, delivering all the elements mentioned above.
On the eve of Champions League 2017/18, we take a look at the top 10 most thrilling matches ever played in the history of the competition.
#10: BAYERN MUNICH 4-2 JUVENTUS (2015-16)
Round: Last 16- Second Leg
Aggregate: Bayern 6-4 Juventus
This enthralling encounter is remembered as one of the best comebacks in recent times. After pulling out a draw at Turin, Bayern went into the match as the team leading on away goals. But, it took Juventus just five minutes after the start to score their first away goal.
Paul Pogba drilled the ball into an empty net after a defensive error from David Alaba saw Stephan Lichtsteiner pass the ball to the young Frenchman. Although the Bavarians dominated the game, it was Juan Cuadrado who scored again to equal the away goal tally in the 28th minute. The goal was an outcome of a clinical counter-attack led by Morata's magical run.
It took Bayern the 73rd minute to score the goal as Lewandoski headed home. Then, Kingsly Coman's deft cross to Mueller saw the Bavarians scrap a 2-2 draw in the last minute.
As the match forayed into extra time, substitute Thiago Alcantara carved out an opening in Juventus defence after a one-two with Mueller and scored in the 108th minute as Bayern took the lead. Another goal from Juventus could have ended the UCL campaign for Bavarians on away goals. But, substitute Kingsly Coman rose to the occasion two minutes later, scoring the fourth goal, ultimately killing the game.
Bayern Munich: Neuer, Lahm, Kimmich, Benatia (Bernat 45), Alaba, Alonso (Coman 60), Douglas Costa, Muller, Vidal, Ribery (Thiago Alcantara 101), Lewandowski
Goalscorers: Lewandowski 73, Thomas Mueller 90, Thiago Alcantara 108, Coman 110
Juventus: Buffon, Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Bonucci, Evra, Cuadrado (Pereyra 89), Khedira (Sturaro 68), Hernanes, Pogba, Alex Sandro, Morata (Mandzukic 72)
Goalscorers: Pogba 5, Cuadrado 28
HIGHLIGHTS:
#9: MANCHESTER UNITED 3-2 BAYERN MUNICH (2009-10)
Round: Quarter-final second leg.
Aggregate: Manchester United 4-4 Bayern Munich (Bayern won on away goals)
Bayern Munich launched their second stunning comeback in two ties against Manchester United to knock out Sir Alex Ferguson's side. Louis van Gaal's Bayern had scored twice in the last 13 minutes to salvage a 2-1 win in their home leg but United took charge of the tie back in Old Trafford.
Ferguson's men raced into a 4-2 aggregate lead thanks to Nani's brace and a Darron Gibson strike, with the Portuguese's first scored via a brilliant side-footed flick.But Ivica Olic outwrestled Michael Carrick to poke home before the interval and five minutes after the restart Rafael was sent off for a second yellow card as the match started to slip away from United.
And in the 77th minute, Munich completed the comeback — as Arjen Robben's sweetly-struck volley straight from a corner sent Bayern through on away goals.
Manchester United: Van der Sar, Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Carrick (Berbatov 80), Fletcher, Gibson (Giggs 80), Nani, Valencia, Rooney (O'Shea 55)
Goalscorers: Gibson 3, Nani 7, 41
Bayern Munich: Butt, Van Buyten, Demichelis, Lahm, Badstuber, Ribery, Van Bommel, Schweinsteiger, Robben (Altintop 76), Olic (Pranjic 84), Muller (Gomez 46)
Goalscorers: Olic 43, Robben 74
HIGHLIGHTS:
#8: JUVENTUS 2-3 MANCHESTER UNITED (1998-99)
Round: Semi-final second leg
Aggregate: Juventus 3-4 Manchester United
Anyone who watched the game that day would tell you that Keane was an absolute demon on the pitch. The fixture is mainly remembered as the Irishman's finest 90 minutes in a United shirt. Roy Keane covered every blade of grass, as he dragged the game by the scruff of the neck to a 3-2 victory.
Juventus emerged as the favourites after securing a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in the first leg. The second leg was particularly tricky for United, considering the fact that Juventus had never lost to an English side at home. But, that wouldn't stay the same after two halves.
Filippo Inzaghi scored twice in the first 11 minutes, piling pressure on the Red Devils. But, United's never-give-up attitude saw them pull a goal back as Keane headed past keeper Peruzzi from a David Beckham corner in the 24th minute. Ten minutes later, it was Cole and Yorke's trade-mark telepathic combination that saw the latter score with a header off a deft cross.
The key moment of the match came just after the half-hour mark when Keane, sensing Zidane's growing influence, was booked for a fouling the Frenchman at the half-way line meaning he'd miss the final. But, instead of being disheartened, this galvanized Keane to put up a memorable performance.
After a long wait, it was United who scored the killer goal seven minutes from time. Once again, predators Yorke and Cole combined in a superb exchange to score the winner after Yorke was brought down by Angelo Peruzzi. United qualified for the finals, beating Juventus 4-3 on aggregate.
Juventus: Peruzzi, Ferrara, Di Livio (Fonseca 80), Conte, Inzaghi, Iuliano (Montero 46), Deschamps, Birindelli (Amoruso 46), Pessotto, Zidane, Davids
Goalscorers: Inzaghi 6, 11
Manchester United: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Irwin, Johnsen, Stam, Beckham, Butt, Blomqvist (Scholes 68), Keane, Yorke, Cole
Goalscorers: Keane 24, Yorke 34, Cole 83
HIGHLIGHTS:
#7: BARCELONA 2-2 CHELSEA (2011-12)
Round: Semi-final second leg
Aggregate: Barcelona 2-3 Chelsea
A considerably weak Chelsea pulled out one of the major upsets in the UCL, beating the gigantic Catalan club 3-2 on aggregate. After a disastrous first half, Andre Villas-Boas' short-term replacement Roberto Di Matteo guided Chelsea miraculously to their first ever Champions League title. Chelsea finished sixth in the league but won two trophies, including the FA Cup.
Barcelona were sure they would advance to the finals, even after losing 1-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Lionel Messi was at the height of his powers and was almost unplayable. Busquets opened the scoring, while Iniesta added another after captain John Terry's dismissal following a foul on Alexis Sanchez.
Chelsea were under pressure, not because of the thought of losing, but due to the thought of how much Barca would score against them. Surprisingly, Frank Lampard came to the rescue as he found space for Ramires, who chipped the ball over Victor Valdes and pulled a goal back.
The second half was highly action-packed, as all ten Chelsea players defended the eleven of Barcelona in their half. Just a few minutes after the restart, Drogba's foul on Fabregas resulted in Messi lining up for a penalty. Surely that was the end, but Messi's Chelsea curse haunted him again as he hit the wood work and Chelsea breathed again.
Di Matteo reverted to a 6-3 formation as Chelsea refused to crack under the pressure inflicted by the Catalans. And at the very height of the Barcelona pressure Ashley Cole hoofed up field and Fernando Torres, who had been playing as an auxiliary left back, was clear through to round Valdes and send Chelsea to the final.
Barcelona: Valdes, Puyol, Mascherano, Pique (Dani Alves 26), Cuenca (Tello 67), Busquets, Fabregas (Keita 74), Iniesta, Xavi, Alexis Sanchez, Messi
Goalscorers: Busquets 35, Iniesta 43
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill (Bosingwa 12), Terry sent off 37, Cole, Obi Mikel, Ramires, Meireles, Mata (Kalou 58), Lampard, Drogba (Torres 80)
Goalscorers: Ramires 45+1, Torres 90+1
HIGHLIGHTS:
#6: MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1(PEN 6-5) CHELSEA (2007-08)
Round: Final
Aggregate: Manchester United 1-1(PEN 6-5) Chelsea
In an all-English final, Chelsea played Manchester United in Moscow, Russia. The fixture turned out to be worth every penny for the fans, as the penalty shoot-out added an adrenaline rush in their veins.
To start with, Sir Alex was keen on winning the third Champions League title for United, while interim coach Avram Grant poached for their first-ever silverware in the competition. Cristiano Ronaldo scored with a header from a Wes Brown cross in the 26th minute to grant United the lead. But, a smooth finish from Frank Lampard saw Chelsea reduce the deficit at the end of the first half. The second half was quite competitive, with Chelsea keeping United on the back foot for long periods of time.
The match took an exciting turn when the referee blew the final whistle after extra time, signalling a penalty shoot-out. United suffered the first blow after Petr Cech denied United's third kick of the shootout taken by none other than Cristiano Ronaldo. The excitement throughout the stadium reached its zenith as John Terry stepped up to take the final penalty. The goal would result in Chelsea winning the UCL for the first time in their history.
But, bad luck struck for the Blues captain as he slipped and shot the ball wide of the goal post. The shoot-out continued, to the utter disappointment of the Chelsea fans. Anderson first, then Salmon Kalou and later Ryan Giggs struck the penalties. French forward Nicholas Anelka handed United a dramatic win after being denied on the right by Edwin Van Der Sar.
Manchester United: Van Der Sar, Brown(Anderson 120+5), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Hargreaves, Scholes(Ryan Giggs 87), Carrick, Rooney(Nani 101), Ronaldo, Tevez
Goalscorers: Ronaldo 26 (Penalties: Tevez, Carrick, Hargreaves, Nani, Anderson, Giggs)
Chelsea: Cech, Essien, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole, Makelele(Belletti 120+4), Ballack, Lampard, J Cole(Anelka), Malouda(Kalou 92), Drogba(red carded 116)
Goalscorers: Lampard 45 (Penalties: Ballack, Belletti, Lampard, A Cole, Kalou)
HIGHLIGHTS:
#5: BORUSSIA DORTMUND 3-2 MALAGA (2012-13)
Round: Quarter-final second leg
Aggregate: Borussia Dortmund 3-2 Malaga
In what was one of the best quarter final matchups in the history of the competition, German side Borussia Dortmund emerged as winners after a high-pressure 90-minute game at the Signal Iduna Park. Dortmund reached the finals only to lose to arch-rivals Bayern Munich that season.
The match started on a totally opposite note, as Malaga gained the lead after Joaquin fabulously cut past right back Schmelzer to score the opener. Dortmund remained favorites to win the tie, as Polish striker Lewandowski cancelled out Malaga's lead after a clinical finish from a sublime chopped pass by Marco Reus. Eliseu piled pressure on the Germans after an 82nd-minute finish.
Dortmund now needed two goals to win to reach the semis. Marco Reus once again rose to the occasion after striking a loose ball home to equalize for the Yellows in stoppage time. Felipe Santana then cemented his name in the Champions League folklore, after he netted the ball from a Marco Reus set-piece.
Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller, Schmelzer, Subotic, Felipe Santana, Piszczek, Bender (Sahin 73), Gundogan (Hummels 86), Gotze, Reus, Blaszczykowski (Schieber 72), Lewandowski
Goalscorers: Lewandowski 40, Reus 90+1, Felipe Santana 90+3
Malaga: Caballero, Gamez, Demichelis, Camacho, Antunes, Toulalan, Duda (Eliseu 74), Sergio Sanchez, Isco, Joaquin (Portillo 87), Baptista (Santa Cruz 83)
Goalscorers: Joaquin 25, Eliseu 82
HIGHLIGHTS:
#4: CHELSEA 4-4 LIVERPOOL
Round: Semi finals second leg
Aggregate: Chelsea 7-5 Liverpool
A stirring game saw Liverpool nearly complete a sensational turnaround before Chelsea snatched the tie back. Liverpool, carrying a 3-1 deficit from the first leg at Anfield, knew they had to seize the initiative at Stamford Bridge and attacked Chelsea from the first whistle to race into a two-goal lead
First Fabio Aurelio's free-kick dumbfounded Petr Cech and then Xabi Alonso was fouled in the box before he himself converted the consequent penalty. But Chelsea looked to have killed off the tie with three goals after the break to make it 6-3 on aggregate - as Pepe Reina somehow spilt a Didier Drogba shot, Alex smashed in a free-kick and Frank Lampard stabbed home from close-range.
In what turned out to be a dramatic last 10 minutes, Rafa Benitez's side somehow hauled themselves to within one goal of the semi finals through two quick-fire strikes from Lucas Leiva and Dirk Kuyt.
Yet as Liverpool chased the knockout blow, Lampard caught them cold by sweeping home a curling shot to seal Chelsea's path to the last four – capping off a crazy game.
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Kalou (Anelka 36), Ballack, Essien, Lampard, Malouda, Drogba (Di Santo 90)
Goalscorers: Drogba 52, Alex 57, Lampard 76, 89
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa (Babel 85), Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Lucas, Mascherano (Riera 69), Alonso, Kuyt, Torres (Ngog 80), Benayoun
Goalscorers: Aurelio 19, Alonso pen 28, Lucas 81, Kuyt 82
HIGHLIGHTS:
#3: REAL MADRID 4-1 ATLETICO MADRID (2013-14)
Round: Final
Aggregate: Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid
La Decima. The ultimate dream. That is what Real Madrid kept in mind when they played every match in the Champions League that season. With the arrival of record signing Gareth Bale, Los Blancos looked deathly frightening, with the Welshman and Cristiano Ronaldo extremely menacing on either of the flanks. Atletico Madrid, in spite of all that, had been a revelation that season, winning the League by trumping their cross-town rivals.
The match took an unexpected turn when Diego Godin chipped the ball over Real keeper Iker Cassilas, making it 1-0 for Atletico. The match went on until the 90th minute, with the Los Blancos taking a number of shots on goal. But, their desperate attempts didn't come to fruition.
It was in the 93rd minute in stoppage time when Sergio Ramos headed the ball into the net and scored an equalizer. Real Madrid breathed again, as the fixture went into extra time. Then it was Gareth Bale who made his mark on an Angel Di Maria pass, heading the ball past Thibaut Courtois.
Eight minutes letter, Marcelo killed Atletico's hope of coming back by scoring the third goal for Los Blancos. Curtains over the match were brought down by Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored a penalty in the last minute of extra time, thus winning the La Decima.
Real Madrid: Casillas, Ramos, Varane, Coentrao(Marcelo 59), Carvajal, Khedira(Isco 59), Modric, Di Maria, Bale, Benzema(Morata 79), Ronaldo
Goalscorers: Sergio Ramos, Gareth Bale, Marcelo, Cristiano Ronaldo
Atletico Madrid: Courtois, Juanfran, Miranda, Diego Godin, Felipe Luis(Alderweild 83), Raul Garcia (Sosa 66), Tiago, Gabi, Koke, Diego Costa(Adrian 9), David Villa
Goalscorers: Diego Godin
HIGHLIGHTS:
#2: BARCELONA 6-1 PSG
Round: Last 16 second leg
Aggregate: Barcelona 6-5 PSG
Barcelona became the first ever club in the history of the competition to overcome a four-goal deficit. The whole world was shocked when PSG ran riot against the Catalans at Camp Nou, winning the fixture four goals to nil. Everyone thought Barca's campaign for the season was over.
But, Barcelona didn't intend on giving up, as they pulled 3 goals by 66th minute in the second leg at Parc Des Princes. Edinson Cavani came to Paris Saint Germain's rescue by scoring a goal, thereby dampening the remaining hopes of the Nou Camp faithful.
It wasn't until the 87th minute when Neymar hit a sublime, well aimed free kick past Kevin Trapp that Barca got a new lease of life. However, the goal looked like a mere consolation on a night full of bad black for the Blaugrana.
But they were given more hope when a long ball hauled forward saw Luis Suarez in on goal. The striker felt a challenge from Marquinhos behind him and collapsed to earn the Catalans a penalty which Neymar slotted home. And as PSG's nerves increased, Barcelona completed the most extraordinary of comebacks ever.
The irrepressible Neymar found some space and delivered a chipped ball into the PSG penalty area, Sergio Roberto got in behind and flung his whole body at the ball which in turn flew past Kevin Trapp.
Coaches invaded the pitch and fans piled on top of each other in the stands as they produced a cheer so loud it registered on the Richter scale; a historic comeback.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Rafinha (Sergi Roberto 76), Umtiti, Pique, Mascherano, Iniesta (Turan 65), Busquets, Rakitic (Andre Gomes 84), Neymar, Luis Suarez, Messi
Goalscorers: Suarez 3, Kurzawa(OG) 40, Messi 50, Neymar 88, 90, Sergi Roberto 90+5
Paris Saint-Germain: Trapp, Meunier (Krychowiak 90), Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Kurzawa, Lucas Moura (Di Maria 55), Rabiot, Matuidi, Draxler, Verratti, Cavani
Goalscorers: Cavani 62
HIGHLIGHTS:
#1: AC MILAN 3-3(PEN 2-3)LIVERPOOL
Round: Final
Aggregate: AC Milan 3-3(PEN 2-3)Liverpool
It had to be Istanbul. Never has a team looked so outclassed in the first half and been so immense in the second as Liverpool did against AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final.
It was just fifty seconds into the game when the Nerazzurri skipper Paolo Maldini scored the first, from an Andrea Pirlo set-piece. Later, Hernan Crespo scored a brace against the Merseysiders.
The Brazilian sensation Ricardo Kaka was mesmerizing against Liverpool, whose lob over three defenders made space for Andriy Shevchenko to set up the goal for Hernan Crespo. The third one came on an assist from him, with beautiful through ball to Crespo, who chipped it over Jerzy Dudek.
At the start of the second half, Liverpool wasted no time, leveling the 3-0 deficit in an incredible five minutes. It was John Arne Riise's cross and the Gerrard header that started Liverpool's redemption.
Two minutes later, Vladimir Smicer drove a low shot from 20 yards away from goal against Dida. Another blunder in defence from Gennaro Gattuso saw Xabi Alonso stepping up for a penalty to draw level. Though Dida stopped the ball, Alonso hit it back in the roof, thus completing the redemption of Liverpool.
The penalties were up as neither of the sides was able to score in extra-time. Jerzy Dudek put in a heroic performance as he denied Serginho, Pirlo, and Shevchenko as Liverpool scored three goals through Hamann, Cisse, and Smicer. Liverpool's celebrations were understandably manic because after all, they had just completed the most unbelievable European cup win in history.
AC Milan: Dida, Cafu, Maldini, Stam, Nesta, Gattuso (Rui Costa 112), Seedorf (Serginho 86), Pirlo, Kaka, Shevchenko, Crespo (Tomasson 85)
Goalscorers: Maldini 1, Crespo 39, 44 (Penalties: Tommasson, Kaka)
Liverpool: Dudek, Finnan (Hamann 46), Traore, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Gerrard, Luis Garcia, Alonso, Kewell (Smicer 23), Baros (Cisse 85)
Goalscorers: Gerrard 54, Smicer 56, Alonso 59 (Penalties: Hamann, Cisse, Smicer)
HIGHLIGHTS:
