What Are The Six Most Memorable UCL Matches Ever?

Image source: Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Champions League is the ultimate club competition in football, filled with games to remember. Since its foundation in 1955, UCL history has seen all kinds of dramas and happy endings. Let’s recall the six most memorable UCL matches ever that made football fans hold their breath.

Top 6 most memorable UCL matches ever

Throughout the years, football enthusiasts witnessed top European teams engaging in thrilling match ups, providing fans with some of the most exciting contests in history. While waiting for the 2023/24 UCL, we’ve decided to go through the most memorable UCL matches ever, in our subjective opinion. Remember how it was and bet on new jaw-dropping games at online sportsbooks in Germany.

Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona (2018/19)

Led by Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, Barcelona secured a 3-0 lead in the first leg of the 2018/19 UCL semi-final. At that point, even the most optimistic Liverpool fans wouldn’t have anticipated their team advancing to the final. The odds were stacked against Liverpool, and the absence of Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino only compounded their pre-match challenges. 

Nevertheless, thanks to remarkable performances from Divock Origi and Gini Wijnaldum, Barcelona fans watched Liverpool’s epic comeback in despair, eventually making it to the UCL final. After doing impossible with the Spanish team, The Reds defeated their Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, claiming their sixth European championship.

Barcelona 6-1 Paris Saint-Germain (2016/17)

Regarding the round of 16, few comebacks have been as remarkable as Barcelona’s achievement against PSG in the 2016/17 season. Following a surprising 4-0 defeat in Paris, Luis Enrique’s team was essentially dismissed by the entire footballing community. Despite unexpectedly taking a 3-0 lead and seemingly cruising towards a comeback, the tie appeared to be concluded when Edinson Cavani scored a crucial away goal. This meant Barcelona needed three more goals in less than half an hour. In classic Champions League fashion, Neymar scored a quick brace after the 88th minute, and defender Sergi Roberto completed the sensational comeback in the 95th minute of the match.

Chelsea 2-2 Barcelona (2011/12)

When the Chelsea team, guided by the inexperienced interim coach Roberto Di Matteo, secured a 1-0 victory over reigning champions Barcelona, many anticipated them being overpowered at Camp Nou. The situation became even more challenging with a first-half red card for captain John Terry, swiftly followed by a Barcelona double. 

However, fate favored Chelsea that night. Brazilian midfielder Ramires reinstated Chelsea’s advantage on away goals with an extraordinary chipped effort just before halftime. Subsequently, Leo Messi’s penalty attempt hit the crossbar after the break. Despite enduring significant pressure throughout the second half with only 10 players, Chelsea successfully withstood the onslaught from one of the most talented football teams ever. In injury time, a counterattack unfolded, and Fernando Torres skillfully maneuvered past Victor Valdes, securing Chelsea’s place in the final in a moment that would become legendary.

Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City (2021/22)

The semi-final clash between Real Madrid and Manchester City during the 2021/22 season was one of the most memorable UCL matches ever. In an extraordinary first leg that swung back and forth, the English side emerged with a 4-3 lead. When Riyad Mahrez opened the scoring in the second leg with just over 15 minutes remaining, it appeared to secure Manchester City’s victory. 

As injury time approached, Real Madrid faced the daunting task of scoring twice to force the game into extra time. In a turn of events that seemed unimaginable, Rodrygo netted an incredible brace in less than two minutes, sealing the inevitable victory for the Spanish side. In extra time, Karim Benzema converted a penalty to complete one of the most dramatic semi-final comebacks in the history of the Champions League. 

As the result, Real Madrid went on to lift the trophy for the 14th time in the final against Liverpool. Will they win next year? Check the odds at 22BET.

Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan (2004/05)

Liverpool’s historic triumph against AC Milan is etched in memory. Despite conceding within the first minute and trailing 3-0 at halftime against one of the world’s most skilled teams, the likelihood of anything other than an AC Milan victory seemed slim. 

However, within 15 minutes of the second half, Liverpool remarkably equalized, turning the game into a contest where either side could claim the trophy. The deadlock persisted through regular and extra time, leading to a penalty shootout to determine the champion. Liverpool’s goalkeeper, Jerzy Dudek, secured his place in club folklore by saving the decisive penalty, ultimately granting the Anfield side their fifth trophy in the competition’s history.

Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich (1998/99)

The 1998/99 UCL final is arguably the greatest Champions League game of all time. Sir Alex Ferguson’s team understood that triumphing over Bayern Munich (the current leader at online gambling sites in Germany to win the 2024 UCL), would secure the domestic treble, a feat unprecedented for an English side at that time. Despite Munich’s Mario Basler scoring an early goal, creating a seemingly insurmountable lead as the game approached stoppage time, everything changed in the 91st minute. Teddy Sheringham capitalized, leveling the scores and likely pushing the game into extra time. 

Yet, the drama continued. In less than two minutes, Manchester United earned another corner, leading to a historic moment. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer found himself unmarked at the far post, directing the ball into the roof of the net. In a matter of minutes, United transformed from a seemingly defeated position to becoming the first English side ever to complete the treble in a remarkably dramatic fashion, making the Man Utd v Bayern Munich clash one of the most memorable UCL matches ever. 

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