Uefa Champions League History (Part 2)

The following two years the competition was dominated by the Italian teams.
In 1994 AC Milan beat Johaan Cruyyf's Barcelona with a conclusive victory, 4-0. The following year, in 1995, Milan reached the final again, but they lost this time against Ajax 1-0. And then in 1996 Ajax fell against Juventus in a penalty shootout.

In 1997 the German teams appeared and Borussia Dortmund wonits first Champions League, beating Juventus 3-1. An old aquaintance appeared in 1998: Real Madrid won the Champions League for the seventh time against Juventus 1-0.
The Champions League final of 1999 was one of the most amazing matches in the Champions League history. Bayern Munich and Manchester United were fighting for the cup, Bayern Munich started very well and Mario Basler scored during the 6th minute with an amazing free-kick. Manchester United had a lot of goal chances but they were very unlucky that night. The score at half time was 1-0 for Bayern Munich. It was minute 88 and a goal shot by Mario Basler crashed on the crossbar. The match was almost finished, but the referee added three stoppage minutes, and Paul Sheringam scored twice in two minutes, and Manchester United won the Champions League.


The first Champions League final in XXIst Century was played by two teams of the same country (Valencia and Real Madrid). This time, Real Madrid won against Valencia 3-0 with goals of Morientes, McManaman and Raul Gonzalez.There are the highlights:


The following year, Valencia reached the final, but they lost again. The winner this time was Bayern Munich, who won the final in a penalty shootout after extra time.
Here are the penalties:


This cup was the last Champions League for Real Madrid up to today.They beat Bayern Leverkusen (Germany) 2-1, with goals by Raul and the amazing volley by Zinedine Zidane.
A very young Iker Casillas saved his team in the 5 last minutes with three amazing saves.


In 2003 there was an Italian final between AC Milan and Juventus.
AC Milan won on penalties 3-2 after a goalless draw.
The final of 2004 was very unexpected, because that final was played by Oporto and Monaco. These teams aren´t so potent in their domestic leagues.
Oporto won the final 3-0 and Mourinho (nowaday, the Real Madrid Coach) won his first Champions League (the second one this year).
This year Deportivo de La Coruña comeback a 4-1 in San Siro against Milan, winning 4-0 in La Coruña. They reached semifinals, but they were defeated by Monaco.This team was remembered as "Superdepor"




In 2005 one of the best finals in Champions League history was played.This match was called The Miracle of Istanbul, because AC Milan was winning 3-0 at half time against Liverpool and some Liverpool supporters left the stadium because they had lost all hope. After the break, Liverpool comeback the match scoring three goals in nine minutes (Gerrard, Smicer and Xabi Alonso). Nobody in the stadium could believe that it was true. Liverpool players wre very tired in the extra time, but they defened their team decisively. During minute 118, the goalkeeper Dudek saved an amazing chance by Schevchenko twice.
The match went to penalties and Liverpool won 3-2 and the goalkeeper Dudek was the hero of the night.


In 2006 Vilareal reached to semifinals against Arsenal, but they lost because Riquelme missed a decisive penalty during the last minute of the match. The other finalist was Barcelona who won AC Milan.
The beginning of the final between Arsenal and Barcelona was very complicated for Arsenal because the referee showed the red card to the Arsenal's goalkeeper, Jans Lehman.
Arsenal was playing with ten players, but they scored during minute 37 with a header of Sol Campbell. Barcelona scored during minute 76 and they cameback during minute 85 with a goal by Belleti.

The following year, in 2007, Liverpool beat Chalesea in semifinals again and they reached the final against AC Milan again. But this time AC Milan wanted revenge, and they did it with two goals by Filipo Inzaghi and one goal for Liverpool by Kuyt during stoppage time.


In 2008 the final was played by two English teams, Manchester United and Chelsea, who played its first Champions League final.
Manchester United beat Barcelona in semifinals and Chelsea beat Liverpool.
The final was played in Moscow. Manchester United scored the first during minute 26 with a header of Cristiano Ronaldo, but after half time Frank Lampard drew the match.
The match reached extra time and the referee showed the red card to Didier Drogba(Chelsea).
The match went to penalty shootout and Manchester United won, because John Terry missed the decisive penalty.


Manchester United repeated final the following year at Olimpiastadium of Rome, this time against FC Barcelona.
Manchester couldn't win his second consecutive Champions League, because Barcelona played very well and they scored two goals (Eto'o and Messi).

This season Barcelona met Chelsea in semifinals. The referee didn't whistle four penalties for Chelsea and Andrés Iniesta scored an amazing goal during the last minute of the match.