Seven Champions League finals hosted at Wembley – together with Cruyff’s masterpiece
The home of football will host European football’s ultimate showpiece for the eighth time on Saturday evening.
It seems fitting, Europe’s greatest game played out in one of the most famous venues in all of sport. It’s been over a decade since UEFA last decided to bring the Champions League to the capital – with the last final also pitting Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich against one-another.
And ahead of the 2023/24 final, Daily Star Sport has a look at the other six times Wembley has hosted the Champions League (or the European Cup) final.
AC Milan 2-1 Benfica – 1963
(Image: Mirrorpix)
Join the Daily Star’s WhatsApp for the sexiest headlines, showbiz gossip and lots more
The Daily Star is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join us!
Through the app, we’ll send you the sassiest showbiz stories, some naught headline and a seismic smattering of aliens…along with the latest breaking news of course.
To join our community, all you have to do to join is click on this link, select ‘Join Chat’ and you’re in!
No one will be able to see who has sign up and no one can send messages except for the Daily Star team. We also treat our community members to competitions, special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.
If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
The European Cup had been going almost a decade when UEFA finally decided to bring the competition to Wembley. It was a famous old AC Milan side that rocked up to these shores – boasting Giovanni Trapattoni, who would manage Ireland at Euro 2012, and Gianni Rivera.
However, the Italian’s weren’t the star attraction, that was instead Eusebio. And football’s first megastar didn’t disappoint, sending the Portuguese side ahead in the 18th minute.
It wouldn’t be Benfica’s name on the cup, José Altafini netted a brace with two goals in nine minutes to earn Milan their first European triumph.
What do you think about Wembley hosting the Champions League final? Let us know in the comments section
Man Utd 4-1 Benfica – 1968
(Image: Mirrorpix via Getty Images)
Five years later, Benfica were back for revenge – but it would be more heartbreak for the Portuguese side.
It was an all-star Manchester United line-up, Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and a certain George Best. United were the first English side to get their hands on big ears as football fans across the country were able to watch their heroes in colour.
However, for United, it served as a last hurrah rather than the start of a new dynasty – they wouldn’t reach another European Cup final until 1999.
Ajax 2-0 Panathinaikos – 1971
(Image: Popperfoto/Getty Images)
Jock Stein and co had broken the Italian’s defensive stranglehold on football in 1967 – but Ajax’s European Cup triumph in 1971 was football at its zenith.
Total Football fever swept the continent as Ajax eased aside Greek giants Panathinaikos at a canter. It was almost a message to the footballing world as to what was to come from the Dutch side – who are now recognised as one of the greatest sides ever.
“Wembley’s always been very special,” admitted their team talisman Johan Cruyff. “It’s always been different and has been always good to me.”
Liverpool 1-0 Club Brugge – 1978
(Image: Icon Sport via Getty Images)
Liverpool’s second European triumph, and the only time they’ve won it on home soil, came in 1978.
Kenny Dalglish netted the only goal of the game as 90,000 packed into the Old Wembley to catch a glimpse of the Reds under the Twin Towers. It was King Kenny’s first season with Liverpool – he would go onto win two more European titles.
The Reds’ dominance over Europe would wain until that night in Istanbul.
Barcelona 1-0 Sampdoria – 1992
(Image: GETTY)
It would be another 14 years before the European Cup, now rebranded as the Champions League, hosted Europe’s biggest game again. It was of particular interest in the UK, after European football had taken a backseat following the ban on English sides.
Cruyff was back in the capital, now at the helm of Barcelona.
For Barcelona, the 1-0 win over Sampdoria – courtesy of a Ronald Koeman free-kick deep into extra-time – was an historic first triumph in the competition.
Barcelona 3-1 Man Utd – 2011
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
New Wembley. Same old story.
As Ajax’s 1971 ushered in a new era of football, so too did Barcelona’s 2011 triumph. Pep Guardiola was now on the scene – and his brand of tiki taka had Sir Alex Ferguson’s United spinning.
Lionel Messi, who was joined on the score sheet by Pedri and David Villa, was at his very best as the Red Devils were taught a footballing lesson. United are yet to return to the top game of European football.
Bayern Munich 1-0 Borussia Dortmund – 2013
(Image: Corbis via Getty Images)
And here we are, ahead of Saturday, the most recent final to take place at the home of football happened over a decade ago.
It was a dull affair in all honesty – with Arjen Robben finally breaking the deadlock when he rolled the ball across the line in the 89th minute to hand Bayern Munich the cup.
Now, 11 years down the line, the same two teams will do battle once more.
