After the Champions League group stage, the 16 strongest teams of the season will enter the knockout phase battles only in February of next year, which means that we will not see Champions League clashes in the next two months. During this break, we suggest remembering the top 25 Champions League matches of all time, ranked by the fourfourtwo website. Today we present the third part of the five-part article. 16-20 places, 21-25 places. 15th place - "Barcelona" 1 : 0 "Inter" 2009/2010 semifinal second leg "Players on the field left their blood," proudly said "Inter" coach Jose Mourinho after the match. Although his club lost at the "Camp Nou" stadium, it was enough for the Milan team to reach the Champions League final. In these matches, we saw the typical J. Mourinho tactic: relentless, defensive football, which was also demanded by the early red card for Thiago Motta. After a victory in the first match 3:1, "Inter" controlled the series result, but players like Lionel Messi, Xavi, or Zlatan Ibrahimovic were determined to change the series result. Before the match, no one doubted: "Inter" was facing incredibly tough matches. The expulsion of T. Motta in the first half of the match did not go without scandals: Sergio Busquets theatrically fell to the ground, and his reaction to the fallen hands was captured. It can be understood that this did not please either the Milan players or their coaches, and in order to maintain a favorable result, even their Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto'o retreated to defensive positions. At the end of the match, Gerard Pique scored a goal and ignited hope for his team, but "Barca" could not score the second and winning goal. After the final whistle, J. Mourinho rushed onto the field and joyfully celebrated the victory, and he and his satisfied players were trying to escape from the field. "Barcelona" club caretaker, who, unable to stand the joy of the opponents, turned on the field sprinklers. 14th place - "Chelsea" 4 : 4 "Liverpool" 2008/2009 quarterfinal second leg While the clashes of English clubs in the Champions League always brought drama and intrigue, these matches became one of the most memorable English battles in the Champions League. At the "Anfield" stadium, the visitors from London celebrated a 3:1 victory, but in this match, it was definitely not easy for them to maintain the advantage. Fabio Aurelio and Xabi Alonso's goals allowed the "Reds" to equalize the series result, but to advance to the next stage, they needed at least one more goal. However, in the second half, "Chelsea" had their arguments and with three goals from D. Drogba, Alex, and Frank Lampard, regained a solid lead. When it seemed that "Liverpool" had no hope of returning to the fight in this series, two quick goals from Lucas Leiva and Dirk Kuyt brought back the intrigue. This club again separated from the series of victories by just one goal, but the legend of the "Blues" Frank Lampard with another precise shot made sure that the "Chelsea" club would advance to the semi-finals. 13th place - "Chelsea" 4 : 2 "Barcelona" 2004/2005 quarterfinal second leg It was after these matches and this series that two conflicts were born: "Chelsea" against "Barcelona" and "Jose Mourinho against football." After a 1:2 failure at the "Camp Nou" stadium, where Didier Drogba saw a red card against himself, the Portuguese accused "Barca" coach Frank Rijkaard of entering the referees' room during the match break and having a friendly conversation with referee Anders Frisk. After such accusations, led by dissatisfied "Blues" fans, he even received threats to kill, and soon he decided to end his refereeing career. UEFA refereeing committee chairman Volker Roth then called J. Mourinho "a football enemy." The match started ideally for the "Chelsea" club: Eidur Gudjohnsen, Frank Lampard, and Damien Duff's goals in the 20th minute allowed the hosts to lead 3:0. However, "Barcelona" had Ronaldinho in their ranks, who scored two goals in the first half, after which the Catalans again pushed forward in the series. His second goal, when the Brazilian, without any acceleration, with a rotating shot disarmed the opponents' goalkeeper, not only excited the entire "Stamford Bridge" stadium but also the people watching the match on TV. "Chelsea" was saved from falling by defender John Terry, who scored the winning goal of this series with a head shot in the 77th minute. 12th place - "Liverpool" 3 : 1 "Olympiacos" 2004/2005 group stage match Another miraculous salvation of "Liverpool" in 2004-2005, which most football fans have already forgotten. Before this match, the "Reds" were trailing the Greeks by three points, and after losing the first match 1:0, they had to win the home match by a two-goal margin, otherwise their Champions League season would have ended. The situation was further complicated for the English by Rivaldo, who scored a goal in the 26th minute, after which the hosts needed three precise shots. At the beginning of the second half, Florent Sinama Pongolle equalized the result, but time inexorably passed, and "Liverpool" could not gain the lead. With just ten minutes left in the match, "Liverpool" finally scored their second goal, as Neil Mellor marked, but they still needed one more precise shot. At the decisive moment, the captain of these teams, Steven Gerrard, saved the day with a precise shot, which later became one of the most impressive moments of this club's season in Europe. 11th place - "Barcelona" 3 : 1 "Manchester United" 2010/2011 final It is hard to imagine a team that everyone was so afraid of as "Barcelona" was that season. These matches were the best example of Pep Guardiola's miraculous years in Catalonia, wh...
