UCL: Greatest Champions League semi-finals

-

Let's take a look at some of the greatest Champions League semi-finals. 

With the 2023 Champions League semi-finals just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to look back at some legendary matches at this stage of the competition. 

From AC Milan to Manchester United and Didier Drogba to Zinedine Zidane, iconic clubs and players have come of age and built their modern mythology in these matches. However, which games were the best? 

Champions League semi-finals - 1

AC Milan v Monaco - 1994

The Champions League was still a very different competition when it officially changed its name from the European Cup in the earlier part of the 1990s. 

In this game against Monaco, Milan went up early through Marcel Desailly but suffered a significant setback when Alessandro Costacurta was sent off after 40 minutes. However, they were determined not to let their advantage slip. In the end, they only held their lead but also added to it with further strikes in the second half. The season would only get better for Milan. In the final, they thrashed Barcelona 4-0. They are still regarded as one of the greatest sides ever. 

Juventus v Manchester United - 1999

This was Roy Keane's finest match for Manchester United as he helped drag his time to the 1999 Champions League final. They will be forever remembered for their 2-1 comeback victory in that final against Bayern Munich. That legendary final wasn’t the first time Man United performed the great escape act in the 1998/1999 Champions League season. Goals from Keane, Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole sealed United's passage to that legendary final despite being 2-0 down in Turin.

Juventus v Real Madrid - 2003

This was a tie that featured some football icons. In no particular order, this includes Iker Casillas, Roberto Carlos, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Ronaldo, Gianluigi Buffon, Antonio Conte, Alessandro Del Piero, Pavel Nedved and David Trezeguet. Despite the fact that Juventus ended up losing to AC Milan on penalties in the final, very few of their fans will ever forget this legendary match.

<Click here to read more Real Madrid news and stories>

Chelsea v Monaco - 2004

Another match involving Ligue Ome side Monaco. This time they successfully progressed to the final. In the first leg, they struck twice late on to leave Chelsea's Champions League hopes hanging in the balance after a 3-1 win. In the second leg, and in front of a fantastic Stamford Bridge atmosphere, the home side paid the price for missing a string of chances. Goals from Ibarra and Morientes ultimately sealed the tie for Monaco. 

UCL and UEL (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com)

Manchester United v Barcelona - 2008

This two-legged tie only saw one goal but had plenty of drama. It also represented the first time Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi faced each other in the competition. Despite missing a penalty in the first leg, Ronaldo came out on top against Messi. This was thanks to a fantastic strike from Paul Scholes. United fans created an incredible atmosphere in the last few minutes to help see the game out and confirm a trip to Moscow for an all-English final against Moscow. 

Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid - 2013

Another tie involving Real Madrid and another where they missed out on a spot in the Champions League final. Many Madrid fans thought they had caught a break when drawing Borussia Dortmund instead of Barcelona or Bayern Munich in the 2013 semifinals. However, it only took one leg to show the overconfident fans how wrong they were.

A four-goal masterclass by Robert Lewandowski in Dortmund left Real reeling. Cristiano Ronaldo gave his side a potential lifeline with a 43rd-minute goal. It looked like their decade-long dream of La Decima once again looked in shambles. They would rally in the second leg. Late goals from Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos in the second leg in Madrid gave the home side hope, but Dortmund held on.

Ajax v Tottenham Hotspur - 2019

Very few people expected Ajax and Spurs to qualify for the 2019 semi-final. In this match, they produced one of the most dramatic and exciting European matches ever. After trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Spurs made the worst possible start in Amsterdam when Matthijs de Ligt doubled the advantage for this exciting young side. Hakim Ziyech doubled Ajax's lead on the night with a sweeping finish after an assist by former Southampton winger Dusan Tadic. At this point, Spurs needed a miracle. 

Luas Moura reduced the deficit with a composed finish before the Brazilian's shot on the turn, after keeper Andre Onana had denied substitute Fernando Llorente, levelled the scores on the night and left Spurs requiring one goal to reach the final in Madrid. In a frantic finish, Moura completed his hat-trick with a left-foot shot from 16 yards deep into injury time as his side went through on away goals to reach their first Champions League final.

Popular posts from this blog

Sliding Doors Moments: What if Scholes wasn’t offside?

-
Image
It's time to for another sliding doors moment in football  We travel back to 2004. Manchester United face Porto in the last-16 of the Champions League.  Author - Liam C What actually happened? A ontroversial offside call against Paul Scholes became a pivotal moment in European football history. The disallowed goal cost United a place in the quarter-finals, while Porto, managed by the up and coming manager José Mourinho, went on to win the competition and launch Mourinho into the managerial elite. But what if Scholes hadn’t been ruled offside? How might this alternative scenario have changed the landscape of world and European football? Scholes wasn’t offside: United progress Had the linesman not flagged Scholes for offside, Manchester United would have progressed to the next round of the Champions League. Scholes' goal was legitimate, and had it stood, United would have won the tie on aggregate, knocking out Porto and ending their European dreams. With the Red Devils moving
Read more

PL News: Ten Hag sacked by Man United

-
Image
There has been a managerial change at Old Trafford. Manchester United have sacked manager Erik ten Hag due to the club's disappointing start to the season. Author - Olivia T Ten Hag's last match ended in a 2-1 defeat against West Ham , leaving the club in 14th place in the Premier League with only three wins from their first nine matches. The Red Devils are also 21st of 36 teams in the Europa League league stage, having drawn their three opening matches. Club sources from the club have reportedly suggested that this was a difficult decision but a unanimous one among all the key decision makers.  The club exercised a one-year extension in Ten Hag's contract after their FA Cup final win against Manchester City in May . However, just over three months later, he has been dismissed. United currently sit on 11 points after nine games, marking their second-lowest tally in the Premier League at this stage (only slightly better than the 10 points they had in the 2019-20 season)
Read more

Scotland: Kilmarnock stun Rangers with late winner

-
Image
Kilmarnock 1 - 0 Rangers Rangers remain six points behind the Premiership leaders after suffering a late defeat against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. Author - Mark Lee In a lacklustre match, Rangers wasted several opportunities to secure three points. A combination of poor finishing and solid defending from Kilmarnock made it another frustrating afternoon for the Belgian manager. As the game was heading for a draw, David Watson's lob found Marley Watkins, who beat the offside trap and bundled the ball past Jack Butland. The Gers need to regroup quickly ahead of their Europa League match against FCSB on Thursday. Meanwhile, Derek McInnes' team has now moved to seventh place and are just outside the top six on goal difference. A closer look at how Kilmarnock stunned this Rangers side Home form has traditionally been a strength for Kilmarnock , but they had recorded five draws and one defeat in all competitions on their own pitch leading up to this game. ⚽️ Goal of the day: Mar
Read more