Nick Bruzon shares his five favourtie Champions League moments.
The Champions League returned this week. For some, a bloated cash cow containing ‘Champions’ that may have finished second, third or fourth domestically to accompany the actual title winners in the annual tournament to crown the best in Europe.
The old-style knockout European Cup it isn’t, that’s for sure. UEFA hanging onto their control of European football with talks of a breakaway Super League still hanging heavy around like a bad smell. Just wait until the Saudis want a piece of the action….
For others, a chance for the crème de la crème to come together in mini-groups over six game weeks. The top two from each pool entering that beautiful stage of two-legged cup football. The most skilful and expensively compiled teams across the continent engaging in direct combat to reach the next round. Then do it all again.
Love it or loathe it, there are few who can deny that the Champions League isn’t anything but captivating. Especially in the second phase. With the tournament starting again on Tuesday night I was certainly gripped. As much by yet another fail from former champions Glasgow Celtic. Apparently they became the first British club to lift the trophy back in 1967 – if only somebody had mentioned it. Flat track bullies in the SPL, they once again fell apart when playing at the next level. A 2-0 defeat away to Feyenoord was accompanied by two red cards.
For those of us just coming in from work and tuning in late to the action, last season’s winners Manchester City found themselves a goal behind at home to Red Star Belgrade going into the interval. Pep’s indestructible side on the wrong end of a potential upset. With the always enjoyable prospect of seeing the mighty fall, a place on the couch was secured and the second half awaited with anticipation.
The excitement barely lasted. It was all over in 90 seconds (draw your own analogy) with Julian Alvarez levelling things up almost immediately and City cantering to a 3-1 victory. Like Celtic losing, it was a case of normal service resumed. Exciting though things had got, there was to be no upset. No moment in history made.
However, it did get me thinking about about those truly special moments in the tournament’s history when magic was made. Individual moments and great games).
So, what are the top five?
5: Porto v Manchester United Last 16 (2004) - Jose Mourinho’s touchline celebration
You could write a book on the build-up to this game and what occurred over the two legs. Jose Mourinho, yet to make his much-lauded impact in England, pitting his Porto side against Alex Ferguson and all-conquering Manchester United. Porto had won the first leg 2-1, Roy Keane had been sent off and Fergie’s reaction at full-time was what could politely be described as brusque.
The build-up to the return saw Mourinho exercising all the deadpan shithousery we’ve since grown accustomed to. Despite Paul Scholes levelling things up in the first half and United looking dominant, the pressure built.
Eric Djemba-Djemba is no Roy Keane, that’s for sure, and United found themselves hanging on to victory on the away goals rule. Victory, that is, until the final minute when Edgaras Jankauskas won a free kick courtesy of Phil Neville. Goalkeeper Tim Howard had a moment dealing with Benni McCarthy’s ball in and there was Costinha to bury it at the death.
3-2 Porto on aggregate and Jose Mourinho charging from the dugout all the way down the touchline to celebrate with his players. Sheer, unadulterated passion. An outpouring of joy the likes of which it is hard to imagine.
4: Standard Liege pull of an unlikely qualification 2009-10
What’s the greatest of the niche things that can happen in football? Orange ball in the snow? Match abandoned because too many players have been sent off? The visitors forgetting their kit so having to play in the away colours of the home side?
They’re all good but nothing can beat the moment when a team is desperate for a result so sends the goalkeeper up for a late corner kick. That death or glory moment. Mess it up and the goal down the other end is exposed. Get it right and Jimmy Glass-style madness ensues
In the 2009-10 competition, Standard Liege found themselves missing out on the knockout stages but needing a draw in the final game against AZ Alkmaar to reach the Europa League. Up came goalkeeper Sinan Bolat for a last-gasp corner (90+4). With the ball hoisted high into the box he leapt above the defence to guide a perfectly placed looping header into the back of the net. Cue delirium. Cue qualification
Ironically, Tuesday night saw the feat repeated as Lazio’s Ivan Provedel charged upfield, with his team 1-0 down at home to Athletico Madrid deep into stoppage time. His fine header in the 95th minute from a corner (do they score any other way?) levelled things up and led to the obvious scenes of delirium
3: The ‘miracle’ of Istanbul. 2005 Final
It’s a well-worn trope that Liverpool supporters will never tire of talking about their former glories. Few could deny they were wonderful back in the late 70s and early 80s. Kings of Europe and domestic gods. Then the order of things changed and they found themselves meandering. Living on nothing more than memories and their Anfield bingo cards.
So reaching the 2005 final in Istanbul was a big deal. Perhaps more for them than any other side. A chance to regain those former glories and give the fans something new to crow about (a feat much akin To West Ham’s Europa Conference triumph in 2022/23 meaning they can now drop the 1980 FA Cup – a Trevor Brooking header, I believe)
It started badly and got worse. Milan 3-0 up at half-time and Liverpool fans leaving in droves. What is the Turkish for fire drill? Then, things went nuts in a manner that not even the cheesiest scriptwriter could get away with writing. If you hadn’t seen it, you wouldn’t believe it.
Three goals in six minutes (Steven Gerrard, Vladimír Šmicer and Xabi Alonso) levelled it up. Goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek had the game of his life. No moreso than in the penalties that followed extra time where his save from Andriy Shevchenko secured the trophy for The Reds and wrote a new chapter in the club’s history.
Only the most churlish of football fans could deny it was nothing short of amazing.
2: Celtic’s most humiliating moment 2016
Let’s be honest. When it comes to The Champions League, Celtic and humiliation so often go hand in hand. Yet nothing could match what happened in Brendan Rodgers’ first game in charge of the famous club and former Champions of Europe (did they say?)
On paper, the simplest fixture possible. A trip to Gibraltar (population 33,000) to take on Lincoln Red Imps in the first leg of a second qualifying round tie. A team of part-timers containing every clichéd profession possible: a fireman, a customs officer, a taxi driver and a policeman to name but a few. One simply could not stress enough the apparent imbalance between the two teams.
As we all know, ‘on paper’ so often counts for naff all in cup football. Lee Casciaro’s 48th-minute goal, combined with some absolute backs-to-the-wall defence was sufficient to hold off the Scottish Champions and secure a most famous of famous victories.
Celtic can blame the pitch or themselves (they hit the woodwork twice) but the simple fact of the matter is they were outplayed by a team that wanted it more. That gave the perfect demonstration of home advantage.
One simply cannot emphasize the imbalance between the two sides. If ever football needed a reminder that it’s not the depth or cost of your squad but the passion with which the game is played, then here it was.
1: Manchester United secure the treble. 1999
Possibly one of the most incredible finishes to a game at any level, ever. As much because of what else was at stake – the chance not just for European glory but a treble of domestic league, domestic cup and Champions’ League. For both teams.
Going into the 2005 final in Barcelona, Manchester United and Bayern Munich had each secured their respective titles. United had also beaten Newcastle 2-0 in the FA Cup final whilst their opponents were due to take on Werder Bremen in the German Cup final a few weeks later.
This was a big deal, make no mistake. History in the making and I went out to a London pub to watch this one with a bunch of Red Devils’ supporting fans – even then, they were living down South. Despite no particular affiliation to the team being a Brentford supporter, this was all about the moment. It didn’t disappoint.
Mario Basler gave the Germans a very early lead just five minutes in and from there the game exploded. United dominated as the game progressed, helped primarily by Alex Ferguson’s tactics and superb use of the subs’ bench. Munich hitting the post and the crossbar as the game moved on.
It truly was end-to-end stuff but with 90 minutes up the score remained 1-0 and only 3 minutes of time added on to go. Whilst not quite fire drill territory it looked grim. That is, until Teddy Sheringham fired home on 90+1. United saved and extra time coming. Or was it?
The final minute saw a David Beckham corner played through by Sheringham. There was substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to send the ball high into the roof of the net and turn near defeat into glorious triumph.
A moment that has become one of, if not the, most iconic in the tournament’s history.
