TOP FIVE: The greatest matches at the Allianz Arena | OneFootball

The Munich Football Arena, more commonly known as the Allianz Arena, will play host to European football’s greatest spectacle as Paris Saint-Germain and Inter prepare to face off in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League final. This will be the second time the stadium has held the final of the world’s most prestigious club competition.

Since its opening in 2005, the Allianz Arena has witnessed numerous iconic football matches. The stadium is home to Germany’s most successful club, Bayern Munich, staging record-breaking Bundesliga matches and unforgettable Champions League ties. The 70,000-seater venue has also been utilised on the international stage, hosting fixtures during the 2006 FIFA World Cup as well as the UEFA European Championship in 2021 and 2024.

FromTheSpot has selected the five greatest matches that have taken taken place at the legendary Munich Football Arena ahead of Saturday’s 70th European Cup/UEFA Champions League final.

5) Portugal 2-4 Germany

UEFA European Championship – 2021

After Covid-19 had suspended the 2020 Euros, the tournament, which commenced in the summer of 2021, was highly anticipated by football fans across the continent. Group F was of particular interest as it featured three of the competition’s favourites – France, Portugal and Germany.

The defending champions, Portugal, and one of the 11 host nations, Germany, played out a six-goal thriller in front of 12,926 fans at the Munich Football Arena, which was the highest scoring fixture of the group stage.

Portugal took the lead in the 15th minute after a swift counter-attack was finished off by the inevitable Cristiano Ronaldo. However, Germany equalised ten minutes before half-time after Rúben Dias turned Robin Gosens’ wicked ball across the box into his own net. Fernando Santos’ side were once again the architects of their own downfall as Raphaël Guerreiro scored a second own goal in the space of five minutes to put Die Mannschaft ahead.

Kai Havertz doubled Germany’s advantage in the 51st minute, tapping in another dangerous cross from Gosens down the left wing. The wing-back then headed in a fourth on the hour mark to cap off a man-of-the-match display, before Diogo Jota scored what proved to be a consolation goal for Portugal in the 67th minute.

While Joachim Löw’s team went on to be knocked out of the competition by England in the round of 16, their emphatic victory over Portugal will last as a memory by those who were lucky enough to attend the match at the Allianz Arena after a season of fixtures behind closed doors.

4) Spain 2-1 France

UEFA European Championship – 2024

The Allianz Arena was once again the venue for a European Championship blockbuster between two great nations, as France and Spain met in a mouth-watering semi-final in Munich. La Roja edged an enthralling encounter in a match that will always be remembered for the genius and breakout of 16-year old sensation Lamine Yamal.

France opened the scoring inside nine minutes when Randal Kolo Muani nodded in Kylian Mbappé’s inviting cross to the back post, putting them in a commanding position. Yet for all of France’s tournament experience, they were unable to deny the brilliance of teenager Lamine Yamal. On his wand of a left foot, the Barcelona star curled a stunning effort in off the post from outside the box to become the youngest goalscorer in European Championship history.

Spain’s comeback was completed in the 25th minute. William Saliba’s headed clearance fell to the dangerous Dani Olmo, who neatly juggled the ball before striking a powerful shot that was turned in by French defender Jules Koundé.

In the space of four minutes, Spain had breached France’s resolute defence to send them through to the final where they went on to defeat England and lift the Euros for a fourth time.

The 62,042 fans that were inside the Munich Football Arena that night will look back upon that fixture as the match that spurred Spain onto European glory, but even more so as the night Lamine Yamal announced himself to the world.

3) Bayern Munich 5-1 Wolfsburg

Bundesliga – 2015

Bayern Munich fans have been fortunate enough to experience unrivalled amounts of domestic success and European glory across the club’s illustrious history. Yet on the 22nd of September 2015, the Allianz Arena witnessed a footballing sight that had never been achieved before.

With his side trailing 1-0 to Wolfsburg at half time, Pep Guardiola turned to his trusted marksman – Robert Lewandowski. The Polish international was introduced from the bench in an attempt to overturn the deficit, but what happened next was even beyond the tactical genius of Guardiola himself.

It didn’t take long for Lewandowski to make an impact as he netted an equaliser just six minutes into the second half. A minute later and Bayern were ahead after the substitute fired a long-range effort into the bottom corner. By the 55th minute, Lewandowski had completed a hat-trick in a record time of 3 minutes and 22 seconds.

The home side were now in cruise control but the Bayern frontman continued to punish Wolfsburg at a rapid rate. He netted a further two goals to record the fastest five goals scored by one player in Bundesliga history, a feat achieved in less than nine minutes.

Robert Lewandowski had etched his name into football history. Those inside the Munich Football Arena were left stunned and amazed after beholding a masterclass in finishing that earned the striker four Guinness World Records.

2) Bayern Munich 4-0 Barcelona

In the first leg of the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League semi-finals, Jupp Heynckes’ Bayern Munich side welcomed Barcelona to the Allianz Arena. The German team were hoping to reach the final of the competition for the third time in four seasons. They faced a Barcelona team filled with world-class individuals, yet they blew them away in a resounding victory.

Thomas Müller broke the deadlock in the 25th minute as he crashed home Dante’s header across the six-yard box. The German was instrumental in doubling Bayern’s lead in the second half, rising highest to meet Arjen Robben’s corner and nod it into the path of Mario Gomez, who tapped the ball into an empty net.

Robben then scored a scintillating solo goal to make it 3-0, dribbling past Jordi Alba and squeezing an effort past Víctor Valdés. In the 82nd minute, Müller wrapped up the game, and the tie, as Bayern secured the biggest win in a UEFA Champions League semi-final match.

Bayern Munich backed up their dominant first-leg display with a historic 3–0 triumph at the Camp Nou a week later, sending them through to the final at Wembley Stadium, where they beat their fiercest rivals, Borussia Dortmund, to crown a historic treble-winning season. Certainly, the thrashing of Barcelona at the Allianz Arena served as the catalyst for the club’s monumental success.

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

UEFA Champions League – 2012

The first UEFA Champions League final held at the Munich Football Arena was the 2012 battle between Bayern Munich and Chelsea. On their home turf, Bayern entered as clear favourites yet it was The Blues who defied the odds to rule supreme in Europe.

Despite controlling the majority of the match, it took until the 83rd minute for Bayern to breakdown Chelsea’s makeshift defence. Toni Kroos delivered a perfect cross, allowing Thomas Müller to arrive at the back post and head the ball past Petr Čech.

Jupp Heynckes’ side looked home and dry until Didier Drogba produced another crucial goal in a final for Chelsea. The Ivorian powerfully headed in Juan Mata’s corner to send the match into extra time. Bayern had a golden opportunity to retake the lead in the 95th minute but Petr Čech heroically saved Arjen Robben’s left-footed penalty.

After an additional 30 minutes of play, neither side could find a winner and penalties were to decide their fate. Missed spot kicks from Ivica Olić and Bastian Schweinsteiger proved costly for the German side as Chelsea ran out 4-3 winners in the penalty shoot-out to secure their first Champions League trophy.

That night in Munich will live long in the memory of every Chelsea supporter, while for Bayern Munich, the pain of losing a European final on home soil remains a bitter pill to swallow.