CaughtOffside counts down the ten greatest Champions League moments of all time…
Relive some of your favourite Champions League memories as CaughtOffside counts down the ten greatest moments in the competition’s recent history:
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10) Ronaldo (Real Madrid vs Manchester United, 2003)
The Brazilian star was at the peak of his powers when he near single-handedly dismantled Manchester United in the 2002-03 quarter-finals. In just 67 minutes he scored a sparkling hat-trick, including a stunning volley, and was given a standing ovation by the Old Trafford crowd.
9) Jose Mourinho (Porto vs Manchester United, 2004)
The Chelsea manager announced his arrival in England with his famous touchline run at Old Trafford in 2004. Mourinho was little more than a blur as he sped to the corner flag to celebrate with his Porto players, who had just netted a late winner. His side went onto win the competition before he completed his move to Stamford Bridge the following summer, and the rest is history.
8) Lionel Messi (Barcelona vs Real Madrid, 2011)
There are plenty of performances you could pick out that prove why the Argentine is one of the best players of all time. But this was up there with the very best. Barca’s No10 cut a mesmerising swathe through four Blancos defenders to score one of the competition’s finest individual goals and put one foot in the final.
7) Kaka (AC Milan vs Manchester United, 2007)
This was the Brazilian at his very, very best. Amid a torrential downpour the talented midfielder shone a week after scoring two precious away goals in a 3-2 Old Trafford loss. His 11th-minute volley set the tone for a 3-0 Milan win.
6) Steven Gerrard (Liverpool vs Olympiakos, 2004)
An image that will live long in the memories of Liverpool fans. With the Reds 2-1 up, and needing to win by two clear goals to progress beyond the group stage of the competition they would eventually go on to win, the captain’s majestic half-volley from the edge of the area sent Anfield into raptures and the hosts into the last 16 at their opponents’ expense.
5) Eric Abidal (Barcelona vs Manchester United, 2011)
A touching and classy moments from one of the best teams to ever play the game. Two and a half months after having a cancerous tumour removed from his liver, Abidal was given the honour of raising aloft the trophy at Wembley by regular captain Carles Puyol.
4) Didier Drogba (Chelsea vs Bayern Munich, 2012)
The man for the big occasion, the Ivorian’s final kick of a ball for Chelsea (until he rejoined the club two years later) saw him clinch the Blue’s maiden Champions League crown against the German giants. His penalty in the shootout against Munich proceeded his 88th minute goal in normal time which took the game into extra time.
3) Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid vs Bayer Leverkusen, 2002)
One of the greatest players of all time deservedly made his mark on the Champions League final back in 2002. Zidane’s left-footed waft met Roberto Carlos’s deflected cross on the full to crash home arguably the competition’s most famous goal at Hampden Park.
2) Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Manchester United vs Bayern Munich, 1999)
One of the most astonishing Champions League final comebacks of all time – it took two minutes and 17 seconds of stoppage time for Teddy Sheringham, then Norwegian international Solskjær to turn the game on its head to win United’s second European crown.
1) Jerzy Dudek (Liverpool vs AC Milan, 2005)
That moment was eclipsed only by Liverpool in 2005. Trailing 3-0 at half-time, Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso somehow restored parity. But no moment summed up the ‘Miracle of Istanbul’ better than the keeper’s reflex double save to deny Andriy Shevchenko deep into extra time. After that, only one team was going to win the shoot-out.
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