Inter Milan went into the Champions League final with Bayern Munich in 2010 looking to achieve a historic treble after already winning Serie A and the Coppa Italia earlier in the month.
There was also a growing feeling that the showdown at the Santiago Bernabeu would be Jose Mourinho's last in charge of the Nerazzurri before he completing a move to Real Madrid, but despite a fantastic campaign that had seen them dispatch of Chelsea and Barcelona respectively, they faced a tough ask to overcome an emerging Bayern Munich side who had displayed in the latter stages of the competition that they were developing into a formidable outfit.
With Thiago Motta out through suspension, Mourinho sprung no surprises in his starting lineup as he looked to contain Bayern, who themselves were missing influential winger Franck Ribery after being cautioned in the second leg of the semi-finals against Lyon.
England's Howard Webb was the man in charge in Madrid and he was forced into action from the first whistle as both sides looked to establish a foothold in the match, but neither succeeded as final balls lacked the conviction that was required.
Bayern winger Arjen Robben was the first attacking player to try to influence the game with a couple of aggressive bursts down the flank, and his efforts should have earned the German outfit a penalty after 15 minutes when Maicon handled, but Webb decided that it was accidental.
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Up the other end, Bayern stopper Hans-Joerg Butt was called into action to intervene a deflected Wesley Sneijder ball, but that was as good as the action got during the opening half-hour as disciplined tactics and the odd moment of theatrics threatened to overshadow what had the makings of an entertaining final.
However, with 35 minutes on the clock, Inter took the lead through striker Diego Milito, who latched on to a flick from Sneijder to coolly chip the ball over Butt and into the roof of the net.
Inter began to sense that Bayern were there for the taking before the break, but after Samuel Eto'o failed to make the most of an opening, Sneijder saw his strike saved by Butt as the Bundesliga side kept it at 1-0 going into half time.
Bayern coach Louis van Gaal had work to do, and his team-talk appeared to have the desired effect during the opening minutes of the second half as his team pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but Thomas Muller squandered a glorious chance inside the six-yard area after fine work from Hamit Altintop.
Inter responded by trying to capitalise on the break through Goran Pandev, but his drive was kept out by Butt as the final that many had been hoping for was beginning to come to fruition.
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Bayern looked a different team to the one that produced a feeble effort in the first half as Robben led from the front, but despite the Dutchman's single-handed attempt to get his team back on level terms, he found Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar in equally impressive form as the Brazilian prevented the winger's curling effort finding the top corner.
Van Gaal's side were starting to build a head of steam, but they were dealt a sucker-punch with 20 minutes remaining as Inter doubled their lead through Milito. After controlling Eto'o's pass, the Argentine striker fooled Daniel van Buyten before emphatically firing the ball past Butt.
Mario Gomez was thrown on by Van Gaal in an attempt to pull a goal back, but for all their industry in Inter's half of the pitch, every Bayern attack was being repelled by the Italian defence, who were being impeccably marshalled by Walter Samuel.
Mourinho gave Milito the opportunity to enjoy a standing ovation in the final seconds of the contest before referee Webb brought proceedings to a close to see Inter confirmed as European champions for the first time in 45 years.
The departure of their Portuguese coach was confirmed soon after their triumph, and Inter failed to reproduce their achievements during the following season after ending their Serie A campaign in second place, while bowing out in Europe at the last-eight stage.
Darren Plant
