TOP FIVE: The greatest UEFA Champions League finals | OneFootball

This Saturday’s blockbuster clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter will mark the 70th final of Europe’s top club competition, and the 33rd since it was rebranded as the UEFA Champions League. In what has become the most coveted prize for Europe’s elite clubs, the annual tournament has produced a series of memorable spectacles that are etched into football history.

Ahead of the showdown in Munich, FromTheSpot has selected five iconic finals that encapsulate the magic of the Champions League. Whether it was a last-minute winner, an implausible comeback, or a crushing victory over a rival, this competition has witnessed it all. Now, in their first ever competitive meeting, PSG and Inter look set to write another unforgettable chapter in European football folklore.

5) Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Bayern Munich

2013 – Wembley Stadium

The first all-German Champions League final in 2013 was arguably the pinnacle of the historic rivalry between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.

Under Jürgen Klopp, Dortmund were a club reborn. The passionate German had led his side to consecutive Bundesliga titles, winning the club’s first-ever league and cup double in 2012. The Champions League was the missing piece of silverware for Klopp’s young, energetic team and a dramatic run to the final in his fifth season at the club offered the ultimate chance to complete the set.

Awaiting them at Wembley Stadium, however, were their long-standing rivals, Bayern Munich. Jupp Heynckes’ side had reclaimed Germany’s top-flight title and were on the cusp of becoming the seventh team in Europe to win the treble.

It was a breathless encounter that remained in the balance until the death. Mario Mandžukić broke the deadlock on the hour mark, tapping in Arjen Robben’s cross into an empty net, but Dortmund were back on level terms ten minutes later through İlkay Gündoğan’s calmly converted penalty.

In dramatic fashion, Bayern netted an 89th-minute winner courtesy of Arjen Robben. The Dutchman latched onto Franck Ribéry’s neat flick and scuffed a shot past Roman Weidenfeller to secure a fifth European title for Bayern Munich and their first since 2001. Victory over VfB Stuttgart in the DFB-Pokal final a week later meant Robben’s winner stood as the crown jewel of the club’s first-ever treble.

4) Bayern Munich 1-1 Chelsea (Chelsea won 4-3 on penalties)

2012 – Allianz Arena

On Saturday, the Munich Football Arena (also known as the Allianz Arena) will host its first Champions League final since Bayern Munich’s clash with Chelsea in 2012.

Despite an underwhelming performance in the Premier League, Chelsea reached the final of the competition after an inspiring run under interim manager Roberto Di Matteo. The Blues overcame a 3-1 deficit in their last-16 tie against Napoli before stunning Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in the semi-final.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich defeated José Mourinho’s title-winning Real Madrid side on penalties in the semi-final to reach their second Champions League final in three seasons. With home advantage, the German side were hoping to avoid a repeat of their loss to Inter in 2010.

After dominating the match, Bayern Munich eventually found the breakthrough in the 83rd minute through Thomas Müller, who headed home Toni Kroos’ cross at the back post. Chelsea were on the verge of defeat until their talisman, Didier Drogba, emphatically headed in an equaliser from Juan Mata’s in-swinging corner.

In extra time, Drogba almost turned from hero to villain when his foul on Franck Ribéry handed Bayern a penalty, but his blushes were spared as Arjen Robben’s spot kick was brilliantly saved by a diving Petr Čech.

Another save from Čech, along with a crucial miss by Bastian Schweinsteiger, handed Chelsea the advantage in the penalty shoot-out. Fittingly, Drogba stepped up to seal Chelsea’s first Champions League triumph and end their long quest for European glory.

3) Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid (AET)

2014 – Estádio da Luz

Having pipped them to the Liga title a week before, Atletico Madrid were hoping to deny their local rivals’ La Décima dream – a tenth victory in Europe’s most prestigious competition – in the 2014 Champions League final in Lisbon.

Diego Simeone had spearheaded los Rojiblancos to the biggest stage in European football for the first time since 1974, while Real Madrid were making their first appearance in the competition’s final since defeating Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park in 2002.

After clinching the league for Atletico Madrid against Barcelona in the final match of La Liga, Diego Godín popped up with another vital goal as he gave his side the lead in the 36th minute. A resolute defensive performance from Simone’s men had them minutes away from a momentous win, but a colossal header from Sergio Ramos in 93rd minute sent the game to extra time.

From there, Real Madrid’s attacking might proved too much for Atlético, as a flurry of goals in the second half of extra time secured victory for los Blancos. Gareth Bale capped an outstanding debut season with a decisive header, before Marcelo doubled Carlo Ancelotti’s side’s advantage in the 118th minute. Cristiano Ronaldo inevitably got on the scoresheet, slotting a penalty past Thibaut Courtois in the dying embers of the match.

The victory was significant not only for delivering Real Madrid’s long-awaited tenth European crown, but also for laying the foundation for future success, as they went on to win three more Champions League titles in the following four seasons.

2) Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich

1999 – Camp Nou

The 1999 Champions League final, held in Barcelona, was the battle between Manchester United and Bayern Munich aiming to back up their domestic glory with European success.

The Red Devils had regained the Premier League and also won the FA Cup in the 10 days leading up to their first Champions League final since 1968. Similarly, Bayern had won their 15th German title and had a DFB-Pokal final against Werder Bremen that meant their treble hopes were truly alive.

Having already met in the group stage, the final was the third meeting between the two sides that season. A close affair was expected as there was nothing to separate the two sides earlier on in the competition when both encounters ended in score draws.

However, with Roy Keane and Paul Scholes both missing for United, Bayern had the upper hand and were able to dominate the match. They took an early lead through Mario Basler’s 6th-minute free-kick and controlled the rest of the proceedings.

Yet, in the true spirit of Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side refused to admit defeat. They struck an equaliser in the first minute of injury time through Teddy Sheringham, who guided Ryan Giggs’ tame effort into the bottom corner, before Ole Gunnar Solskjær instinctively poked in a 93rd-minute winner to shock the Camp Nou.

1) AC Milan 3-3 Liverpool (Liverpool won 3-2 on penalties)

2005 – Atatürk Olympic Stadium

The 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul featured two of the most succesfull clubs in the competition’s history.

With Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, AC Milan boasted a star-studded lineup. Featuring a Ballon d’Or winner in Andriy Shevchenko and a World Cup legend in Cafu, among others, the Italian side were clear favourites to bring home a seventh European crown. Liverpool, on the other hand, were built on Rafael Benítez’s philosophy of defensive stability, with Steven Gerrard serving as the team’s driving force.

The Rossoneri were a class above their English opponents in the first half. A strike inside the first minute from captain Paolo Maldini set the tone, before a quick-fire double from Hernán Crespo put Milan firmly on track to win the Champions League in stylish fashion.

A humiliating defeat was on the cards for Liverpool but they went on to stage one of the greatest comebacks in football history. Gerrard got the ball rolling with a brilliant header in the 54th minute and Vladimír Šmicer fired in a long-range effort into the bottom corner just two minutes later. The Reds completed the turnaround on the hour mark when Xabi Alonso followed in the rebound of his missed penalty.

Jerzy Dudek produced a heroic performance in extra time, making an incredible double save to deny Shevchenko from restoring Milan’s lead. He then saved the Ukranian striker’s penalty in the shoot-out as Liverpool secured their fifth Champions League in the most incredible final the Champions League has ever witnessed.