Top 10 Champions League Moments

I would normally do a European football top 10 later in the week but with this week being a Champions League week, I've decided to switch it around and do a Champions League related top 10.

This weeks non-Premier League top 10 is Champions League moments.

We have witnessed many great moments in the Champions League over the years at almost every stage of the competition and a lot of them remain iconic to this very day.

A lot of them have come from the knockout stages onwards as the pressure is higher than it is in the group stages and qualifying rounds. Most of the moments in the list are from the knockout stages with a few being from finals.

My first memory of the Champions League was the 2006 final between Barcelona and Arsenal. I don't remember much about the game, but I remember Barcelona winning and Jens Lehmann being sent off.

If I had to pick the greatest moment from my lifetime, it would have to be the semi final between Liverpool and Barcelona when Liverpool came from 3-0 down to win 4-0. That moment is in the list or at least a specific moment from the game is.

Now here is the list:

Liverpool's corner taken quickly - 2019

Liverpool comeback against AC Milan - 2005

Barcelona's incredible comeback against PSG - 2017

Didier Drogba scoring his final kick for Chelsea - 2012

Man United score two late goals to beat Bayern Munich - 1999

Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich - 2020

Gareth Bale vs Inter Milan - 2010

Lionel Messi scores five vs Bayer Leverkusen - 2012

Tottenham 3-1 Real Madrid - 2017

Roma 3-0 Barcelona - 2018

10. Roma 3-0 Barcelona

This was one of Barcelona's first collapses in Europe and quite possibly the start of their decline as one of the top teams in Europe.

They appeared to have one foot in the semi finals after winning the first leg convincingly 4-1 and very few people predicted Roma of all teams to completely turn the game around.

Roma scored early in the game through Edin Dzeko and that early goal gave them confidence that they could turn the game around. They built on their lead in the second half and they never let Barca back into the game.

9. Tottenham 3-1 Real Madrid

Spurs were massive underdogs ahead of their game against Real Madrid at Wembley and understandably so due to the quality of team they were facing. They went on and defied the odds by putting in a controlled and ruthless display to beat the then defending champions.

This result was a real statement for Spurs in that they showed that they can beat anyone on their day and that they're ready to compete with the big boys.

Dele Alli got two on the day with his first being a tap in from Kieran Trippier's cross and his second strike being deflected before Christian Eriksen got the third. Harry Winks pulled the strings in the midfield and was the best player on the pitch.

Spurs were placed in a tough group ahead of this season as they had Dortmund as well as Real and they finished ahead of both of them to win the group.

8. Lionel Messi scores five vs Bayer Leverkusen

We have been lucky to witness many magical performances from Lionel Messi over the years and his five goal showing against Bayer Leverkusen was arguably the best of the lot.

His first goal was a chip over the keeper a few yards inside the penalty area, his second was a strike into the bottom right hand corner after evading challenges from the Leverkusen defence, and his third was another chip over the keeper which I wrote about on top 10 goals. His fourth goal saw him pounce on the keeper's parry before placing the ball into the back net, and his fifth was a well placed strike into the bottom right hand corner from outside the box.

This showing was Messi at his finest as he ran the show with his goals and brilliance.

7. Gareth Bale vs Inter Milan

Gareth Bale was an unknown quantity in Europe heading into his and Spurs' first ever Champions League season. Well he certainly made himself known with his performances from both games against Inter Milan, who were the defending champions at the time.

He scored a hat trick in the away leg at the San Siro which brought Spurs right back into the game after being reduced to 10 men early on following Heurelho Gomes' sending off.

He may not have scored in the game at White Hart Lane, but his performance was incredible as he tore Maicon to shreds and caused Inter all kinds of problems with his energy, pace, agility, and crosses into the box.

He announced himself on the European stage with his performances from both games.

6. Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich

Barcelona were involved in some incredible collapses in the previous season which marked the beginning of their decline. But their hammering at the hands of Bayern Munich was the result that marked the end of their time as one of the top clubs in Europe.

The way Bayern ripped them apart was just incredible and I don't think I'd ever see a Barca side beaten so easily. This team was the worst Barca side I'd ever seen, despite it having Messi and Suarez.

This result gave the club a wake up call as they would move on some of the ageing players and begin to promote some of the younger players which they have done ever since, promoting the likes of Pedri and Gavi.

5. Liverpool's corner taken quickly

One of the most iconic moments in Champions League history.

Liverpool needed just one more goal to beat Barcelona and reach the final after coming from 3-0 down to level the score on aggregate.

They were given a corner heading into the final moments of the game and with the Barcelona defence still organising themselves, Trent Alexander-Arnold decided to sneakily deliver in quick corner into Divock Origi who scored the winning goal.

This game was Anfield at it's best as the atmosphere inside the ground was incredible and drove Liverpool all the way.

4. Didier Drogba scoring his final kick for Chelsea

Drogba's winning penalty in the shootout of the 2012 final against Bayern Munich was his final kick of a ball at Chelsea and was the goal that won Chelsea their first Champions League.

He scored the equaliser to send the game to extra time when he headed home Juan Mata's corner just a couple of minutes from time not long after Thomas Muller put Bayern ahead.

But it was his penalty that won the final for Chelsea and it was a fitting way for him to bow out as a Chelsea player.

Drogba had won everything but the Champions League with Chelsea heading into the 2012 final, and him scoring that penalty to win it for them was both a fitting moment for the team and for him.

3. Man United score two late goals to beat Bayern Munich

Man United were second best for much of the 1999 final and were heading for defeat heading into stoppage time.

Up until Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stepped off the bench and scored in stoppage time to win the game for United.

Alex Ferguson was desperate to win this final so he could put himself in the same bracket as Matt Busby in terms of Man United legends. Knowing that his team were losing and needed something from somewhere to have a chance of winning the game, he brought on his super subs and the change paid off.

Sheringham and Solskjaer stepped off the bench many times during the Premier League that season and they always delivered when called upon.

Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke were the main strikers for United that season as their goals played a key part in United winning the treble. But Sheringham and Solskjaer's impacts off the bench also played a key role.

2. Barcelona's incredible comeback against PSG

Arguably the greatest comeback in Champions League history.

Barcelona were 4-0 down heading in the second leg of their tie against PSG and very few people were expecting them to turn the tie around.

But that is exactly what happened as they pulled the most unlikely of comebacks to win 6-1and 6-5 on aggregate.

They started the game with a better intensity than they did in the first leg, got the early goal through Luis Suarez's header and they soon built on that as they got themselves right back in the tie.

They were pegged back when Edinson Cavani scored to supposedly seal the game once and for all. But Barca never gave up as they scored three more goals to win the game and the tie, with two of them coming in stoppage time including Sergi Roberto's dramatic late winner.

Neymar was the player who was the most instrumental on the night as he netted twice and set up the winning goal for Roberto. This was the game where he stepped out of Messi's shadow.

1. Liverpool comeback against AC Milan

This moment had to be my no.1 because of how iconic it is and the fact that it came in a final. Arguably the best final in the competitions history.

Liverpool were outplayed in the first half by Milan in the 2005 final and a lot of people thought it was game over by half time.

But Steven Gerrard had other ideas as he rallied his teammates at half time and single-handedly carried them over the finish line.

It was his header that started the comeback early in the second half before Vladimir Smicer scored a couple of minutes later. He later won the penalty that Xabi Alonso missed before scoring on the rebound to complete the comeback.

It was Gerrard's leadership, drive and abilities as a player that inspired Liverpool to turn the game around and win the final.

It wasn't the greatest of Liverpool sides that season with Gerrard being their only superstar. But for them to pull off that comeback and win the final against a star studded Milan side that included the likes of Maldini, Cafu, Stam, Kaka and Shevchenko was just incredible.

This final is likely to pop up on other Champions League top 10's.

MY TOP 10:

1. Liverpool comeback against AC Milan

2. Barcelona;s incredible comeback against PSG

3. Man United score two late goals to beat Bayern Munich

4. Didier Drogba scoring his final kick for Chelsea

5. Liverpool's corner taken quickly

6. Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich

7. Gareth Bale vs Inter Milan

8. Lionel Messi scores five vs Bayer Leverkusen

9. Tottenham 3-1 Real Madrid

10. Roma 3-0 Barcelona