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Champions League finals: Six of the best

Champions League finals: Six of the best
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Liverpool face Tottenham in Madrid.

Tottenham take on Liverpool in the Champions League final in Madrid on Saturday.

Here, Press Association Sport's Ciara Clarke looks back on six other memorable Champions League finals.

May 26 1999 – Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich – Camp Nou, Barcelona

Manchester United clinched the Treble in Barcelona
Manchester United clinched the Treble in Barcelona (Phil Noble/PA)

Manchester United sealed one of the most memorable Champions League successes and secured their historic Treble by beating Bayern Munich. Mario Basler opened the scoring for Munich in the first six minutes and the game had seemed pretty even from then on.

Despite a stellar performance by David Beckham, United struggled as the German side dominated the whole game until the 90 minutes were up. What followed were arguably the most famous three minutes of stoppage time in history.

Teddy Sheringham scored following a corner 30 seconds in, making it 1-1 with two minutes to go. Less than 30 seconds later another corner was given to United but this time it was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who turned the ball into Bayern's net – securing their second European Cup title.

The celebrations were raucous for United but devastating for Bayern with several players collapsing to the floor in despair. A game that was theirs three minutes previously had now been lost. So much so that Bayern colours had already been attached to the cup.

May 25 2005 – Milan 3-3 Liverpool (Liverpool win 3-2 on penalties) – Ataturk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul

Liverpool completed an astonishing comeback
Liverpool completed an astonishing comeback (Nick Potts/PA)

The ultimate game of two halves. Milan scored in the opening minutes of the game thanks to a volley header by captain Paolo Maldini, followed by a double from Hernan Crespo on 39 and 44 minutes.

Milan created chance after chance in the first half with Liverpool trailing behind in every department leaving them 3-0 down at half time.

But, nine minutes into the second half, captain Steven Gerrard scored for Liverpool, quickly followed by Vladimir Smicer in the 56th minute and Xabi Alonso in the 60th minute, whose penalty was saved but shot into the back of the net on rebound. That made it 3-3 at full time with extra time to follow.

The battle continued past extra time with both team fatigued as the game would be decided by a penalty shoot-out. After a tense nine efforts, Liverpool won 3-2 on penalties as Jerzy Dudek saved from Andriy Shevchenko.

May 21 2008 – Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea (Manchester United win 6-5 on penalties) – Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow

Manchester United beat Chelsea on penalties
Manchester United beat Chelsea on penalties (Martin Rickett/PA)

The last time there was an all-British Champions League final was in 2008 when Manchester United took on Chelsea.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored for United in the 26th minute. United continued to apply the pressure but were denied by Chelsea's keeper Petr Cech on many occasions. Frank Lampard then brought Chelsea level with a goal in the 45th minute making it an even 1-1 at half-time.

Chelsea transformed in the second half but United kept them at bay, leading the game to head into extra time. After a tense extra period, including a red card issued to Didier Drogba for a slap on Nemanja Vidic, the title would be decided by a penalty shoot-out.

It came down to Nicolas Anelka to keep Chelsea in play with the score at 6-5 but his shot was saved by Edwin Van Der Sar, securing United's third European Cup success.

May 19 2012- Bayern Munich 1- 1 Chelsea (Chelsea win 3-4 on penalties) Allianz Stadium, Munich

Frank Lampard celebrates with the Champions League trophy
Frank Lampard celebrates with the Champions League trophy (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Bayern Munich had control for most of this match but they were unable to kill Chelsea off. The match remained goalless throughout the first half and well into the second.

A header from Thomas Muller gave Bayern the lead in the 83rd minute. But that was quickly followed by Drogba who evened the scores with another header past Manuel Neuer to equalise. The game went to extra time and, despite a few good chances, the winner would be decided by penalties for the first time since 2008.

Things looked good for Bayern who scored their first three spot-kicks but their final two shots were saved to leave it locked at 3-3 with Chelsea's fifth and final penalty still to go. Drogba sent the keeper the wrong way to give Chelsea their first ever European Cup.

May 25 2013 Final – Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Bayern Munich – Wembley Stadium, London

Bayern Munich were victorious at Wembley
Bayern Munich were victorious at Wembley (Martin Rickett/PA)

Wembley Stadium played host to this all-German final in 2013. The first goal of the game came in the 60th minute from Bayern's Mario Mandzukic. Things started to come together for Munich until Dante raised his foot in the penalty area to give Dortmund a penalty.

Ilkay Gundogan converted in the 68th minute but ultimately it was Arjen Robben who would prove the match-winner, bursting through to deliver the winning goal for Bayern in the 89th minute.

May 24 2014 – Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid – Estadio da Luz, Lisbon

Gareth Bale was on the winning side in Lisbon
Gareth Bale was on the winning side in Lisbon (Nick Potts/PA)

Another final between two teams from the same nation and indeed the same city. Atletico were the first to score after Diego Godin headed the ball past Iker Casillas in the 36th minute.

The second half saw Real push forward as they tried to equalise but the score remained 1-0 all the way into added time. In the third minute of stoppage time, Sergio Ramos headed in from a corner to snatch a last-gasp equaliser.

A tense 30 minutes of extra time followed and it wasn't until the 110th minute that Gareth Bale was able to head the ball into the net to put Real into the lead for the first time. Marcelo then extended the lead in the 118th minute before Ronaldo scored a penalty to make it 4-1 in the 120th minute of the game. Three goals in 10 minutes saw Real Madrid secure 'La Decima' with their 10th European Cup success.

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


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