Which Champion’s League Final was the Best Ever?

For many sports fans, the Champions League final is the penultimate event on the sporting calendar. For both sets of fans and neutrals alike, the excitement, build up and atmosphere represent everything that a major sporting spectacle should be – and with the thousands of football betting options and football odds available at the click of a mouse, it’s never been easier to make the big game that little bit more exciting.

Which Champion's League Final was the Best Ever?

From Zinedine Zidane’s perfect volley for Real Madrid, to Manchester United’s epic turn around against Bayern Munich, the Champions League final has served up many incredible moments and thrilling encounters. This makes it one of the most popular matches to bet on, none more so than when Liverpool faced AC Milan in 2005.

Going into the fixture, the Italians were the strong favourites. On the way to the final they had swept aside both Manchester United and their neighbours Internazionale and with a squad full of seasoned internationals such as Paolo Maldini, Clarence Seedorf, Filippo Inzaghi, Kaka and Andrei Shevchenko, the tie really was theirs to lose.

By contrast, Liverpool were struggling domestically and had scraped their way through the tournament, only getting out of the group stage on goal difference and aided by a hugely controversial goal against Chelsea in the semi-final.

The match was billed beforehand as a cagey contest, with Milan expected to be typically defensive without committing many men forward and Liverpool expected to shut up shop, hoping to steal a goal at the other end.

It took all of 50 seconds for Milan captain, Paolo Maldini, to get on the end of a free kick and send Milan on their way. The next 40 minutes were equally as compelling as both teams went all out. Liverpool’s Sami Hyppia forced a good save, whilst Milan had an effort cleared off the line and a goal dubiously disallowed for offside.

Liverpool’s Luis Garcia had two glorious chances, followed by a legitimate penalty claim, which was turned down. Then, with half time in sight, Liverpool crumbled. Their defence was carved open by the sublime Kaka, who set up Hernan Crespo to finish. Two goals in five minutes surely meant the game was over.

At half time, Liverpool was rated at 100-1 to get back in the game.

Many thought it would be a case of damage limitation in the second half. No-one could have predicted that one of the greatest football comebacks was about to ensue, much to the joy of those who had put on a few quid at half time.

10 minutes into the half and Steven Gerrard had pulled back a consolation goal for Liverpool. Three minutes later, Vladimir Smicer, on his last Liverpool appearance, made it 3-2. Three minutes after that, Liverpool were awarded a penalty which, befitting the drama of the occasion, was saved. The subsequent rebound found the back of the net. Those were six minutes of pure excitement, amazement and disbelief amongst both sets of fans. The match was now anyone’s, neither team managed to break the deadlock and extra time followed.

The Istanbul heat was taking its toll on both sets of players, when Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek made one of the most incredible double saves ever seen, denying Shevchenko from under six yards.

This incredible match had one last nail biting chapter, in the shape of a penalty shoot out.

English teams and penalties have never seen eye to eye, but for Liverpool it was a dream start. Milan missed their first two kicks whilst Liverpool scored theirs; they were in the driving seat. It was all riding on Milan’s fourth kick; if it missed, then Liverpool would win. Up stepped the reliable, prolific Shevchenko, whose tame effort down the centre was parried away by Dudek.

Liverpool won their fifth European title in the most memorable fashion imaginable and proved that even the wildest bet is worth placing.