Top 10 Champions League Shocks

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

This week's European football top 10 is Champions League shocks.

There are been many upsets in the Champions League over the years at every stage of the competition including the qualifying rounds.

But it's the ones from the group stage or league phase onwards that get remembered best because they're the bigger shocks due to the teams that are involved.

The shocks in the list are a mixture of games from all stages of the competition from the old group stage through to the final and yes there is one final in the list.

And without further ordo, here is the list:

Newcastle 4-1 PSG - 2023

Tottenham 3-1 Inter Milan - 2010

Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich - 2020

Man City 1-3 Lyon - 2020

Tottenham 3-1 Real Madrid - 2017

Real Madrid 1-2 Sheriff Tiraspol - 2021

Barcelona 2-2 Chelsea - 2012

Man City 3-1 Barcelona - 2016

Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan - 2005

Celtic 2-1 Barcelona - 2012

10. Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich

This game had to be at no.10 because it wasn't really a shock as Bayern can beat Barca on any day of the week.

But it was a shock in terms of the score line.

I wrote about this game in a previous Champions League top 10 in moments and I mentioned how easily Bayern picked Barca apart.

They walked through and opened up Barca time and time again during the game and after scoring three times in 10 minutes during the first half, you just knew it was going to be a walk in the park for Bayern.

This game marked the end of Barca's time as one of the top teams in Europe.

9. Barcelona 2-2 Chelsea

Chelsea were actually leading the tie heading into the second at the Nou Camp courtesy of a Didier Drogba goal.

But Barca were still the favourites to progress to the final because of them being at home and the quality of side they were at the time.

Barca were leading the game 2-1 at half time with Chelsea down to 10 men after John Terry was sent off for a knee in the back of Alexis Sanchez.

They had the chance to go ahead in the tie on aggregate only for Lionel Messi of all people to hit his penalty against the crossbar.

Chelsea had to sit back for most of the game knowing that Barca were going to have most of the possession and they were also down to ten men and only needed a draw to go through as they were leading on away goals at the time.

But they only went on for the win as Fernando Torres of all people received the ball from a clearance with no defenders in his sights, ran with it inside the Barca half and scored the goal that put Chelsea into the final after rounding Victor Valdes.

This Chelsea side did have some quality players like Drogba, Lampard and Cech, but this result still goes down as a shock because of the Barca team they were facing and the fact that they finished 5th or 6th in the Premier League that season.

8. Man City 3-1 Barcelona

This result wouldn't feel like a shock if it happened within the last two or three years, but it did when it happened because Man City weren't the side we know them as today as it was in Pep Guardiola's first season.

They were beaten 4-0 in the reverse at the Nou Camp just a couple of weeks before this game and very few people saw them showing a reaction.

Barca were the better side early as they took the lead through Messi and had a number of good chances after that which they didn't take.

Gundogan soon equalised a few minutes before half time and that goal changed the game as City came out with more energy in the second half and turned the game around.

Kevin De Bruyne put them in front with a brilliant free kick before Gundogan added his second to win the game despite there being a possible handball in the lead up from Sergio Aguero.

That goal might not have stood had VAR been around.

7. Man City 1-3 Lyon

Before winning the Champions League in 2023, Man City and Pep Guardiola were criticized for overthinking it in the seasons prior and this one was an example of that.

City started the game with a back three instead of their usual back four and they paid the price for it as were unfamiliar with the system and their high line got exposed on a number of occasions including for two of Lyon's goals.

City were second best for most of the game but they did respond to going a goal down when Kevin De Bruyne equalised over midway through the second half.

They had another chance to equalise after going 2-1 down only for Raheem Sterling to sky his shot from close range over the bar.

City were the favourites heading into the game as they were among the favourites to win the competition like they have been in most seasons. But they looked surprisingly off it in this one against a Lyon side who no one fancied.

6. Tottenham 3-1 Inter Milan

This game was in Spurs' first season in the Champions League and they were facing an Inter side who were the defending champions at the time.

Very few people would've had Spurs down to beat Inter when the draw came out and they only went on and did it as Gareth Bale tore the then defending champions apart with his blistering pace.

Bale netted a hat trick in the reverse fixture at the San Siro just a couple of weeks prior to this game and in this game, he assisted two of Spurs' goals and had arguably the best right back in the world at the time in Maicon on toast.

This game was the one where Spurs showed that they can compete at this level and where Bale announced himself on the European stage.

5. Tottenham 3-1 Real Madrid

This shock from Spurs just pips their win over Inter because of Real Madrid being a bigger club and having such a good record in this competition.

Very few people would've backed Spurs against a Real side with the likes of Ronaldo, Ramos, Modric and Kroos in it.

But they only went on and beat them as they played with more energy and showed that they're ready to take on the big teams in Europe.

Dele Alli scored twice with both goals coming either side of half time before Christian Eriksen bagged the third followed by a late consolation from Cristiano Ronaldo.

4. Newcastle 4-1 PSG

Newcastle's last stint in the Champions League didn't go very well as they finished bottom of their group which looked very tough on paper.

But they did still have a night to remember in their win over PSG which very few people saw coming because of the difference in quality between the two sides.

Newcastle might've even fancied themselves to pull it off as they were more of a team than PSG who at the time had been known as a team of individuals.

The Magpies looked more up for it than the French side as they had more energy about them and wanted it more.

They're back in the Champions League this season where they'll be looking for more results like this one.

3. Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan

I've written about this game in previous top 10's and this is the first one where I don't have it at no.1.

This was a shock because the Milan side were on paper a class above the Liverpool and it showed in the first half as Milan were in complete control and appeared to have had the game won.

But at half time, Steven Gerrard had other ideas as he rallied his team and single handedly turned the game around, and inspire his team to complete the most unlikely of comebacks before winning the game on penalties.

When you look at a Milan side consisting of the likes of Maldini, Gattuso, Cafu, Kaka and Shevchenko, you wonder how an average at best Liverpool side beat them after being 3-0 down.

2. Celtic 2-1 Barcelona

Celtic haven't had a lot of luck in the Champions League over the years as they've often gone out during the qualifying stages in recent years.

But they did have easily their best night of the modern era when they beat Barcelona at Celtic Park and it was a very good Barca side as well with the likes of Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas and even David Villa all playing.

They had to defend for most of the match after Victor Wanyama headed them in front as Barca had most of the ball and pushed for an equaliser.

But they did have a moment to add to their lead and they took it as Tony Watt latched onto Fraser Forster's kick up the pitch to put the Hoops 2-0 up before Messi got a goal back for Barca.

1. Real Madrid 1-2 Sheriff Tiraspol

This shock had to be my no.1 because of the gulf in class between the two sides on paper and the difference in size of the two clubs.

For a side from Moldova to beat a side like Real Madrid is just unheard of and for them to pull it off was just incredible.

Sheriff had to weather a lot of Real pressure after going ahead the first time until Karim Benzema put his penalty ahead and from that point onwards, you would think that Real would go on to win the game.

They did put Sheriff under more pressure after levelling the score, but it was Sheriff who scored the winner and it was a brilliant goal to win the game too as Sebastien Thill's shot from just outside the box went straight into the top corner.

This shock is without a doubt the greatest Champions League upset of all-time and it's why I have it at no.1.

MY TOP 10:

1. Real Madrid 1-2 Sheriff Tiraspol

2. Celtic 2-1 Barcelona

3. Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan

4. Newcastle 4-1 PSG

5. Tottenham 3-1 Real Madrid

6. Tottenham 3-1 Inter Milan

7. Man City 1-3 Lyon

8. Man City 3-1 Barcelona

9. Barcelona 2-2 Chelsea

10. Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich