Classic Games in the past…

Few games could have matched the tension, drama and emotion of last night’s encounter between Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC, but the UEFA Champions League has produced more than a few knockout thrillers in the last decade. uefa.com has picked, in chronological order, ten of the best since 1999. Do you agree with our choice? Have your say below.

Liverpool FC v Chelsea FC
2008/09 quarter-final: 1-3, 4-4 (agg: 5-7)
It all seemed straightforward when Chelsea triumphed 3-1 at Anfield. But when Liverpool led 2-0 then 4-3 at Stamford Bridge, it looked as if they could exact revenge from their dramatic semi-final loss there a year earlier. Only Frank Lampard’s last-minute strike at the end of a thrilling game ensured they did not.

Arsenal FC v Liverpool FC
2007/08 quarter-final: 1-1, 2-4 (agg: 3-5)
Liverpool led the second leg 2-1 with six minutes to go at Anfield, when Emmanuel Adebayor grabbed what seemed a decisive away goal. The home side, though, were not behind in the tie for long as Steven Gerrard converted a penalty prior to Ryan Babel striking in added time on the break.

Fenerbahçe SK v Sevilla FC
2007/08 first knockout round: 3-2, 2-3 (agg: 5-5, 3-2 pens)
Fenerbahçe made a habit of exciting games last season and this was the pick. Semih Şentürk’s late goal in Istanbul had ensured a home win after two Sevilla equalisers, but two Volkan Demirel mistakes in the first nine minutes of the return seemed to have ended Fenerbahçe’s campaign. Deivid then scored twice either side of a Frédéric Kanouté goal, and in the subsequent shoot-out Volkan proved the hero with three saves.

Liverpool FC v AC Milan
2004/05 final: 3-3 aet, 3-2 pens
The story of Istanbul barely needs recounting; Paolo Maldini scoring the fastest-ever final goal after 52 seconds, Milan leading 3-0 at half-time, Liverpool’s stunning Steven Gerrard-inspired six-minute comeback, Jerzy Dudek’s extra-time double-save from Andriy Shevchenko, and the goalkeeper and striker reprising those roles to decide the shoot-out. Milan, at least, had their revenge in Athens two years later.

AC Milan v RC Deportivo La Coruña
2003/04 quarter-final: 4-1, 0-4 (agg: 4-5)
Milan had suffered a similar heartbreak a season before their Istanbul nightmare. Deportivo actually scored first at the San Siro but Kaká equalised just before the break and by the 53-minute mark it was 4-1. No team had overcome such a deficit to win a UEFA Champions League tie, but Walter Pandiani, Juan Carlos Valerón and Alberto Luque scored before the break and substitute Fran edged Depor ahead with 14 minutes left.

Real Madrid CF v AS Monaco FC
2003/04 quarter-final: 4-2, 1-3 (agg: 5-5, Monaco win on away goals)
Just one day before the Riazor thriller was a similarly stunning turnaround at Stade Louis II. A quick burst of Madrid goals in the first leg had put them 4-1 up, and it seemed a late strike from Fernando Morientes – on loan to Monaco from Real – would not prevent the Spanish side reaching their fifth semi-final in six seasons, especially after Raúl González scored first in the return. But Ludovic Giuly pulled one back and Morientes headed in early in the second half to put Madrid in trouble. Giuly’s 66th-minute goal then gave Monaco an advantage they never relinquished.

Liverpool FC v Bayer 04 Leverkusen
2001/02 quarter-final: 1-0, 2-4 (agg: 3-4)
A determined Liverpool performance had ensured a 1-0 win at Anfield but it all changed at the BayArena. Leverkusen levelled the aggregate score early through Michael Ballack but Abel Xavier responded and after Ballack and Dimitar Berbatov had edged the home side ahead again Jari Litmanen seemed to have clinched the tie for Liverpool on 79 minutes. But just five minutes later Lucio swung things in Leverkusen’s favour, and they were to win a similarly exciting semi-final on away goals against Manchester United.

Chelsea FC v FC Barcelona
1999/00 quarter-final: 3-1, 1-5 aet (agg: 4-6)
Their reputations are now equally stellar, not least after their recent thrilling encouters – with another to follow shortly – but back then Chelsea were considered definite underdogs against Barcelona. So it came as a surprise when Chelsea led the first leg 3-0 after 38 minutes at Stamford Bridge, Gianfranco Zole striking on the half-hour followed by two Tore André Flo efforts. But Luís Figo’s away goal was to prove crucial as Dani was to force extra-time with seven minutes left at the Camp Nou. Rivaldo and Patrick Kluivert settled the tie, the Brazilian’s goal from a penalty after Celestine Babayaro had been sent off.

Manchester United FC v FC Bayern München
1998/99 final: 2-1
The Camp Nou was also the scene of one of the great finals, although the first 90 minutes in truth seemed to point to a routine 1-0 Bayern win. But two David Beckham corners, and two goals from substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær, made up 112 unforgettable seconds that perhaps sowed the seeds for the Premier League’s later European ascendancy.

Manchester United FC v Juventus
1998/99 quarter-final; 1-1, 3-2 (agg: 4-3)
Of course, it was quite a run for United, who had been the competition’s nearly men for most of the 1990s. Ryan Giggs grabbed a last-gasp first-leg equaliser at Old Trafford then after two early Filippo Inzaghi goals in Turin, Roy Keane led a desperate rearguard, pulling one back and after receiving a booking that ruled him out of the final, continuing to push. Dwight Yorke edged United ahead on away goals and with six minutes left Andy Cole settled matters.