The Early Finals at the UEFA Champions League Knockout Stages (Part 1)

 

The early finals in the knockout stages of the Champions League between two favourite teams have occurred from time to time.

As the continent’s top-flight competition, the UEFA Champions League has been the stage for the elite sides only. It was even more exclusive than today, especially prior to the 1997/98 season, as the berths were only given to the domestic league winners. Consequently, the clash between the top favourites was rare, although it was still likely.

Since the expansion of UCL in 1997, more teams from the major leagues have been able to participate, from the runners-up only to the big four or three. Consequently, big-team games have been more frequent, even in the early stages. However, several matches have been considered early finals since they involved the tournament’s favourites or teams that have been in form that season.

The games tipped for UCL’s early finals have taken place throughout the tournament’s history. Such will be discussed in the series of articles, with this being the first one. Here are three distinguished games from three different decades. 

Ajax Amsterdam vs Bayern Munich (European Cup 1972/73)

There was no better rivalry in the 1970s than between the Netherlands and Germany. Yet, this one was prior to the great final of the 1974 FIFA World Cup at the club level. The two most successful clubs in both nations, Ajax Amsterdam and Bayern Munich, had to face off too early in the quarterfinals. They were both captured by their legends, Johan Cruyff and Franz Beckenbauer.

The Amsterdamers were reigning champions, and they had a bye in the first round. At that time, the European Cup, or the old Champions League, used a knockout tournament system without a group stage. Ajax eased past CSKA Sofia in the second round with a 6-1 aggregate win. Bayern Munich was no different. They advanced to the round of 8 after hammering Galatasaray 7-1 in aggregate and running riots against Omonia Nicosia 13-0 in aggregate, respectively, in the first two rounds.

The two giants finally met in the first leg at Olympisch Stadium in Amsterdam with an unexpected result. Die Roten had more chances before the intervals as they were knocking on the door yet failed to break the deadlock. In the second half, it was more even. However, Bayern eventually conceded due to Sepp Maier’s error. The German international could not keep the ball in his hand, and Arie Haan, who was standing in front of him, added his tally at his mercy in the 53^rd minute. Then, Gerrie Muhren doubled Ajax’s lead with his volley. The last two goals showed Johan Cruyff’s masterclass. He provided an assist from a corner kick for Arie Haan’s header before he himself headed home in the 89^th minute. Cryuff and Co. were too superior for Bayern with a 4-0 victory at home.

The second leg was staged at the Olympiastadion in Munich. Ajax once again went ahead early in the 7^th minute as Piet Kaizer took advantage of Bayern’s defender’s blunder. The Dutch forward lobbed the ball into the empty net. Such undoubtedly frustrated the home side. They had to wait until the 30^th minute, when Ruud Krol netted his own goal. Gerd Muller then scored another goal to give them a lead nine minutes later. The second half simply belonged to Bayern, as they knocked on the doors. However, it was Ajax who posed bigger threats through a counterattack scenario. Thanks to Sepp Maier, who made double saves plus more solid defence. Eventually, the German side only beat them 2-1, which was not enough to get through.

Ajax, under Sandro Kovacs, went on to clinch their third title after thumping Juventus 1-0 in the final. It was Cryuff’s last season in Amsterdam before he joined Barcelona to work with his former boss, Rinus Michels.

Barcelona vs Juventus (European Cup 1985/86)

It was a highly anticipated game in the quarterfinals of that season. The Catalan side was the favourite in that season, whereas Juventus were the defending champions. Both had seen off FC Porto and Hellas Verona, respectively, in the second round.

Barcelona managed to snatch a narrow 1-0 win at home in the first leg in front of their 102,592 fans. It was a tight encounter, as both failed to penetrate the backline easily, let alone create clinical chances. Terry Venables’ men did have a few attempts before the left-back Julio Alberto broke the deadlock in the 82^nd minute with his long-range shot.

In the second leg, La Vecchia Signora played more offensively, creating more chances in the final third. Yet Michael Platini and Co. were still unable to score. In fact, they were stunned by the visitors as Steve Archibald headed home in the 32^nd minute. The French talisman finally bagged an equaliser one minute before the break, with young Michael Laudrup providing an assist.

Blaugrana managed to advance to the final after crushing IFK Gothenborg on penalties in the semifinal. However, they were once again beaten in the final by the underdog Steaua Bucharest, also on penalties, despite having an advantage in the summit as the final match was held in Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Sevilla.

Olympique Marseille vs AC Milan (European Cup 1990/91)

In the early 1990s, AC Milan was the best team in the world. They had the best players in the squad, including the Dutch trio Ruud Gullit, Marco Van Basten, and Frank Rijkaard, as well as the key figures in Gli Azzurri such as Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, and the current Real Madrid boss, Carlo Ancelotti.

Meanwhile, OM was one of the richest and most ambitious teams in that era, much like PSG today. They had a star-studded squad too, with Marcel Desailly, Jean Pierre Papin, Abedi Pele, England’s most gifted winger, Chris Waddle, and the young Eric Cantona.

The first leg was held in San Siro, Milan, as both teams shared spoils in a 1-1 draw. OM conceded first as Ruud Gullit opened the score sheet, but they equalised with Jean Pierre Papin’s strike from the left side on Milan’s backline. The visitor even could have won the game if Abedi Pele’s attempt in the second half had not hit the post.

In the second leg, the game was more intense and tight. Both teams barely made any chances into the deep of the second half before Chris Waddle scored in the 75^th minute. The match then went to a halt due to the floodlights issue before it was resumed 15 minutes later. However, Rossonerri refused to continue the match because of such disgraceful technical mistakes. The game ended in a 3-0 victory for the French side as a suspension for the reigning champion’s decision. In fact, the Italian side was then banned from any continental competition for a year.

Marseille, under Raymond Goethals, were able to go through the final. Unfortunately, they had to suffer a loss on penalties against Red Star Belgrade. The clash, which was staged in San Nicola, Bari remained one of the most important achievements in both clubs’s history. In fact, OM met AC Milan again in the 1993 Champions Cup final.