The Champions League has seen a number of incredible matches since it was rebranded in 1992.
The likes of Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid have been involved in some classic contests over the years.
Liverpool’s incredible comeback win on penalties in the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan is the greatest game in the competition’s history.
The UEFA Champions League has been a competition that has become one of, if not, the biggest club competitions in the world. Every year 32 teams enter Europe’s elite tournament with some hoping they can fulfill their dream and win the fantastic trophy. There have been some superb games in the Champions League since UEFA decided to rebrand the competition back in 1992, which made the competition a lot more popular as the years have gone by.
It used to be the champions of each league who would enter the competition before this changed to the top four teams from Europe’s top five leagues as well as one or two teams from the Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland and more. Since the competition’s revamp, there have been some superb games, whether it’s Liverpool’s comeback in Istanbul, or the 1999 Champions League final which featured a dramatic turnaround by Manchester United.
Ranking factors
Context of the game (whether it was a final or semi-final)
Score-line
Teams involved
High-profile incidents (penalties, red cards etc)
13 Paris Saint Germain 1-3 Manchester United, 2018/19
Coming in at number 13 on our list is the extraordinary knockout stage clash between Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain during March 2019. After Jose Mourinho was sacked by the Red Devils in December, former United icon, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, took over the managerial reign at Old Trafford and it was this game that won him the job.
After the Parisian side won the first leg 2-0 at Old Trafford and Paul Pogba was sent off, things looked to be going from bad to worse for the Red Devils. The Red Devils somehow managed to turn it around with two goals from Romelu Lukaku before Juan Bernat halved the deficit. United looked to be going out of the competition before Diogo Dalot’s shot, which was blocked by the hand of Presnel Kimpembe, won the Red Devils a penalty.
Marcus Rashford stepped up and smashed the ball into the roof of the net past Gianluigi Buffon, sending United through on away goals. It was a dramatic end to what was a superb game at the Parc des Princes. United went through before losing to Barcelona in the quarter-final, but it was a remarkable performance in Paris by a relatively inexperienced United team.
Key Match Statistics
PSG
Stats
Manchester United
72%
Possession
28%
12
Total shots
5
4
Shots on target
4
9
Fouls
15
4
Corner kicks
0
12 Paris Saint-Germain 5-4 Bayern Munich, 2025/26
Two of Europe’s biggest sides put on a show at the Parc des Princes when they contested the first leg of their Champions League semi-final clash.
Harry Kane gave his side a 17th minute lead when he converted from the penalty spot and the floodgates opened from then. There were four more goals in the first half as PSG took a 3-2 lead going into the break.
The home side took a three-goal lead after an hour when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele both bagged their second of the match. But Bayern fought back and goals from Dayot Upamecano and Luis Diaz ensured the game ended in a 5-4 victory for the Ligue 1 giants.
There were just 23 shots in the match, with 13 on target. Nine of those resulted in goals. While it was a thrilling match with attacking quality in abundance, what prevents it from being ranked higher was that it was only the first leg.
Key Match Statistics
Paris Saint-Germain
Stats
Bayern Munich
46%
Possession
54%
13
Total shots
10
6
Shots on target
7
13
Fouls
3
2
Corner kicks
5
11 Man City 4-3 Tottenham Hotspur, 2018/2019
Next on our list is yet another game from the 2018/2019 campaign with Manchester City playing Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium. The North London club had recorded a 1-0 victory in the first leg, but things didn’t start well for Spurs in the second leg, with Raheem Sterling firing in a goal after just two minutes.
Spurs could have collapsed but instead rallied and retook the lead with Heung-min Son scoring twice to give the London club the lead again and with a vital away goal. Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero had swung the game back in City’s favour. Fernando Llorente scored a controversial goal from a corner which, after a lengthy VAR check, was awarded.
City looked to be heading out of the competition but Sterling struck late on much to Pep Guardiola’s delight. However, the goal was ruled out after Sergio Aguero was offside in the build up, which left the City fans devastated. The game ended and Spurs were victorious and thus brought to an end one of the best games in Champions League history. Spurs would eventually reach the final before losing to Liverpool, but it was nevertheless a dramatic game.
Key Match Statistics
Manchester City
Stats
Tottenham Hotspur
66%
Possession
34%
20
Total shots
11
8
Shots on target
7
8
Fouls
13
4
Corner kicks
3
10 Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich – 2019/20
In tenth place on our list was Bayern Munich’s dominant 8-2 victory over Ernesto Valverde’s Barcelona. After the world was paused in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, football was temporarily put on hold before UEFA decided to host the competition in one stadium to lower the risk of infection spreading.
It was a strange end to the tournament with these games being played behind closed doors. One of these games was Hansi Flick’s Bayern Munich vs Barcelona. It was an extraordinary game with goals flying in all over the place. The Spanish side had taken the lead before the German side raced into a 4-1 lead thanks to goals from Thomas Muller, Serge Gnabry and Ivan Perisic.
Luis Suarez made it 4-2 before four more goals from Bayern, including two from former Blaugrana midfielder Philippe Coutinho, made it a rout. It was 8-2 to Bayern Munich and the German side would go on to win the tournament after beating Thomas Tuchel’s PSG in the final.
Key Match Statistics
Barcelona
Stats
Bayern Munich
51
Possession
49
7
Total shots
26
5
Shots on target
14
13
Fouls
22
6
Corner kicks
9
9 Borussia Dortmund 3-2 Malaga – 2012/2013
In ninth place on our list is Borussia Dortmund’s incredibly dramatic 3-2 victory over Spanish side Malaga in the quarter-final. Jurgen Klopp’s side were hoping to make it to the final of the competition but had to get past a Malaga side which featured Isco, Eliseu, Willy Caballero and former Manchester City defender Martin Demichelis.
Joaquin had given the Spanish side the lead in the second leg, after the first leg finished 0-0. Robert Lewandowski fired in an equaliser before substitute Eliseu scored what looked to be a late winner for the Spanish side with a place in the semi-final just moments away. However, in extraordinary circumstances, Klopp’s side scored two late goals thanks to Felipe Santana and Marco Reus, which sent the Signal Iduna Park into raptures. The German side would eventually reach the final before losing to arch-rivals Bayern Munich at Wembley Stadium thanks to a late goal from Arjen Robben.
Key Match Statistics
Borussia Dortmund
Stats
Malaga
60%
Possession
40%
13
Total shots
7
10
Shots on target
5
12
Fouls
13
7
Corner kicks
2
8 Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona – 2018/2019
Divock Origi celebrates his goal vs Barcelona
Next on our list is yet another game which came from the 2018/19 Champions League campaign. Barcelona had beaten Klopp’s Liverpool 3-0 in the semi-final of the Champions League and looked set to book their place in the final with just the second leg at Anfield left to be played. What occurred during the 90 minutes at Anfield will go down in history as one of the most dramatic games in history.
Divock Origi had given Liverpool an early lead and from then on, it looked as if the home crowd were behind the team and that, crucially, Barcelona were crumbling. It took until the second half for Liverpool to gain control, as two goals from Georginio Wijnaldum had wiped out Barcelona’s lead, with the Dutch midfielder netting twice in the second half.
Origi would then fire in again after right-back Trent Alexander Arnold fired in a quick corner which caught the Barcelona defence off guard. The Belgian found the back of the net and won Liverpool the game in dramatic circumstances. It was an emotional end to the game, with the Liverpool players and coaching staff joining arms to sing You’ll Never Walk Alone. Liverpool would go on to win the Champions League after they beat Tottenham 2-0 in the final.
Key Match Statistics
Liverpool
Stats
Barcelona
43%
Possession
57
13
Total shots
8
7
Shots on target
5
12
Fouls
9
7
Corner kicks
6
7 Barcelona 6-1 Paris Saint Germain – 2016/17
Barcelona v Paris St Germain – UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg – The Nou Camp, Barcelona, Spain – 8/3/17 Barcelona’s Sergi Roberto celebrates scoring their sixth goal Reuters / Albert Gea Livepic
Comebacks in the Champions League have become a feature of the European competition and this was no different when Barcelona took on PSG in the knockout stages of the competition back in 2017. Unai Emery’s French side beat Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg and, similar to when Barcelona were three goals up against Liverpool in 2019, were surely confident of advancing through to the next round of the competition.
Luis Suarez, a Layvin Kurzawa own goal and Lionel Messi’s penalty made it 3-0 to the Spanish side. Edinson Cavani struck an away goal for the French side, and it looked to be over. However, vital late goals from Neymar brought the game level at 5-5 before Sergi Roberto slid in to net the winner for the Spanish side in stoppage time. Barcelona did not end up winning the competition as they suffered defeat to Juventus, with Argentine forward Paulo Dybala shining against the Spanish giants. This game, however, will go down as being one of the best games in the recent history of the competition.
Key Match Statistics
Barcelona
Stats
PSG
71%
Possession
29%
20
Total shots
8
10
Shots on target
3
16
Fouls
25
6
Corner kicks
4
6 Deportivo La Coruna 4-0 AC Milan – 2003/04
After a strong AC Milan side had won the first leg at the San Siro 4-1 against Spanish giants Deportivo La Coruna, the game, as a contest looked to be over. However, the second leg, similar to other games on this list, would prove to be an incredibly dramatic occasion.
Walter Pandiani fired the first after five minutes, before Juan Carlos Valeron headed a second and Albert Luque put Deportivo ahead on aggregate. Substitute Gonzalez Fran added a fourth to finish Milan’s challenge as they joined Real Madrid and Arsenal in suffering shock defeats during that round of the competition.
The victory saw Deportivo advance to the semi-final of the competition but they did not go on to win the tournament. That honour went to Jose Mourinho’s FC Porto, who won the final against French giants AS Monaco. Nevertheless, this was a game to remember and had to be high on our list.
Key Match Statistics
Deportivo La Coruna
Stats
AC Milan
57%
Possession
43%
16
Total shots
12
10
Shots on target
5
6
Fouls
4
8
Corner kicks
7
5 Chelsea 4-4 Liverpool, 2008/09
Starting our top five is Chelsea’s dramatic 4-4 draw against Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. After Chelsea had won the first leg 3-1 at Anfield, things were looking bleak for the Reds, but Fabio Aurelio and a Xabi Alonso penalty meant the game was level on aggregate, but the West London club were leading on aggregate due to the away goal rule.
Chelsea fought back thanks to three goals in the second half from Didier Drogba, Alex and Frank Lampard. Liverpool were surely down and out but did fight back thanks to a deflected goal from Lucas Leiva and a Dirk Kuyt header meant it would be a nervy final few minutes at Stamford Bridge. Lampard scored again to make the game safe and set up a meeting with FC Barcelona in the semi-final.
Chelsea did not go on and win the competition with Guardiola’s Barcelona knocking the Blues out thanks to a stunning late goal from Andres Iniesta. Nevertheless, this was a game for the ages and will be remembered as a Champions League classic for years to come and it had to be included on our list.
Key Match Statistics
Chelsea
Stats
Liverpool
41%
Possession
59%
12
Total shots
13
6
Shots on target
7
14
Fouls
29
4
Corner kicks
4
4 Ajax 2-3 Tottenham Hotspur, 2018/2019
The fourth and final game that will be included on our list from the 2018/19 season is the dramatic semi-final between Erik ten Hag’s Ajax and Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur. Donny Van De Beek’s goal had won Ajax the first leg at the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium and this second leg looked to be heading in a similar direction.
Matthijs de Ligt and Hakim Ziyech had given Ajax a two-goal lead on the night but, because of the away goal rule, Spurs needed just to win the game on the night and would have secured qualification to the next round. The North London side looked to be out of the contest, however, with the Dutch side creating chance after chance to make the game safe, but they failed to capitalise on those chances that they created.
Lucas Moura scored a brilliant goal early in the second half before he scored another soon after following an error from goalkeeper Andre Onana. The Brazilian’s introduction into the game changed the complexity of the second half and the former PSG winger scored a dramatic late winner which saw the North London club advance into the final. Spurs didn’t win the final but it was a memorable game, nonetheless.
Arsenal are facing a fight to keep hold of defender Piero Hincapie, as ESPN reports that Real Madrid have made enquiries about signing the Ecuadorian international this summer.
However, with centre-back problems lurking in the background for the Spanish giants, they are back shopping in the Premier League, and are looking to swipe a star from the Gunners.
Real Madrid Want Piero Hincapie
After failing in an attempt to sign Calafiori, Real Madrid are looking at Arsenal star Hincapie, as ESPN reports that enquiries have been made over a deal.
It comes as Los Blancos want a left-footed centre-back, with moves elsewhere in the backline set to free up a space for the position this summer.
Any deal looks difficult, however, as Arsenal are set to make Hincapie’s loan from Bayer Leverkusen permanent this summer with a £45 million clause in his deal.
That’s not to say a move isn’t possible, but the Gunners would likely be hesitant to let the 24-year-old leave without at least banking a significant profit on a switch to a Champions League rival.
Having already sounded out Hincapie, the report adds that Real Madrid have also enquired about Ruben Dias, Alessandro Bastoni, and Nico Schlotterbeck – though the latter is now unlikely to move due to an injury sustained at the World Cup with Germany.
In all, it means Arsenal could face a potential battle in keeping the versatile defender, but have all the cards in their hand to keep him if they so wish.
You scored
out of 20
What Mikel Arteta has said about Hincapie
Hincapie wasn’t always a guaranteed started for Arsenal over the course of the previous season, but he did play a large role in the team finally winning the Premier League.
The defender was a reliable option, especially when injuries struck in the backline, adding plenty of pace and physicality at full-back in particular.
“When I spoke to Xabi just before we were going to sign him, I said if you have to describe him in one word, what would you use, and he said, ‘He’s a warrior,'” Arteta said in March to TNT Sports.
Arsenal continue to be linked with potential forward options in the market, but face a battle to land one key target.
“He will play through brick walls for you and he’s one of the most competitive players that I have had. He’s come into the Premier League after surgery and a difficult start without a pre-season, and when you see him around his team-mates and competing on the pitch, it’s like he’s been here for 10 years.
“He has an aura, a charisma – a really special character.”
It shows exactly what Arteta thinks of Hincapie, and perhaps further underlines how tough it may be for Real Madrid to tempt a move this summer.
One England player chose not to shake Thomas Partey’s hand before the Three Lions faced Ghana in their second World Cup game in Boston on Tuesday night.
The Ghanaian midfielder, previously of Arsenal, is currently facing allegations that include seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving four different women, as per The Mirror.
These incidents are alleged to have taken place between 2020 and 2022, with investigations taking place while he was still plying his trade in the Premier League.
England have been urged to change their national anthem for football matches, and ditch ‘God Save the King’.
England Player Refuses Thomas Partey’s Handshake Before World Cup Tie
Cody Grubbs (Sipa USA via Reuters)
Heading into the clash, the English FA’s stance was that the players could make their own decision on whether or not to embrace Partey following the national anthems being played.
In Djed Spence’s case, the Tottenham defender chose to keep his arms by his side as his former north London adversary walked past him. Watch the incident below:
The 2026 World Cup has brought national anthems into the spotlight as the pre-game routine has seen everyone get involved in belting out their country’s chosen tune.
England players stand together and sing the words to ‘God Save the King’ before matches. While the song about the Royal Family technically isn’t the ‘national anthem’, it’s effectively treated as one. But that doesn’t mean it’s popular.
Three Lions Urged Into Pre-Match Anthem Change
Cody Grubbs (Sipa USA via Reuters)
In fact, a poll carried out by Express Sport has suggested the majority of English supporters would rather not be subjected to the anthem before they watch their country play. When asked to vote on whether ‘God Save the King’ should be replaced, a staggering 55% believe it should.
Out of the 4,000 voters, 1,902 were in the camp that believed the tune shouldn’t be scrapped, with the remainder wanting change. Of those who are in favour of replacing the pre-match song, 15% think it should be substituted for ‘I Vow To Thee My Country’.
Another 40% chose ‘Jerusalem’ by Sir Hubert Parry and Sir Edward Elgar. However, the majority (44%) went for a song written in 1901 and used at the Commonwealth Games until 2010. That is, of course, ‘Land Of Hope And Glory’.
So there’s a fairly even split between the potential replacements, but most people appear to want to see the back of the current anthem. Thomas Tuchel, on the other hand, wants Oasis’ Wonderwall to be his team’s post-match song.
Why Thomas Tuchel Doesn’t Sing the National Anthem
Tuchel is unlike those asking for change, as the German boss has already labelled it ‘a very powerful, emotional and meaningful national anthem’. Speaking in March 2025, he stated:
“I think, first of all, you have a very powerful, emotional and meaningful national anthem and I could not be more proud to be on the sidelines and be in charge of the English national team.”
But you won’t catch Tuchel belting out the anthem before England matches, for the time being at least. Instead, the ex-Chelsea boss feels he should earn that right.
England have a long list of songs and chants, all of which will be sung at major tournaments. Check out our guide for the complete songbook.
When asked why he doesn’t join in, he said: “It means everything. It means a lot to me, I can assure you, but I can feel because it is that meaningful and it is that emotional and it is so powerful, the national anthem, that I have to earn my right to sing it.”
