6) May 2, 1962: Benfica 5-3 Real Madrid – Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam, Netherlands
This was a game that signaled the “changing of the guard” so to say. This game featured three of the best soccer players of all time competing at various points in their career. Real Madrid had Alfredo di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas, who were in the later stages of their respective careers. Benfica had Eusebio, the young star in the infancy of his career. Despite a hat trick by Puskas, it wasn’t enough for Benfica to pull out a 5-3 win. Benfica had won two straight European Cups by this point and were on their way to forming a dynasty. That was until Bela Gutmann left the team when Benfica wouldn’t give him a pay raise after winning two straight Finals. He famously put out a curse on Benfica saying, “Not in a hundred years from now will Benfica ever be European champion.” It’s been 53 years and they’re 0-8 in European Finals (including European/Champions League and UEFA/Europa League). Just 47 more years to go.
5) May 18, 1960: Real Madrid 7-3 Eintracht Frankfurt – Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland
To tell you how great Real Madrid was back in the 50’s, they won the first five European Cups in a row. In 60 years, there have only been three other teams to have ever matched or exceeded five titles. They simply were the most dominant team in soccer history. This thriller was Real’s fifth of their five straight and created history as two players scored hat tricks. Alfredo di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas both scored hat tricks (Puskas scored four goals) and became two of only three players to have scored a hat trick in a European Cup Final.
4) May 19, 2012: Chelsea 1 (4)-(3) Bayern Munich – Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany
Going to be honest, the first 80 minutes of this game was rather unbearable to watch. The game had its moments but it was very highly defensive and neither team was taking many risks. Then in the final 10 minutes, all hell broke loose. Once Thomas Muller scored late in the game, the Munich crowd thought it was all over. That was until Didier Drogba equalized in the 88th minute.
Then in PK’s, the same thing happened. While Juan Mata missed Chelsea’s first PK, Bayern Munich made their first three, including one from Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Then Bayern missed their final two PK’s which left everything to Drogba. Drogba buried the PK and gave Chelsea their first Champions League title.
