The 2013/14 UEFA Champions League is the 11th edition since the knockout round of 16 replaced the second group stage. To mark the occasion, UEFA.com picks out a classic tie from each of the past ten seasons – all headline scores are aggregate.seasons – all headline scores are aggregate.
Manchester United FC 2-3 FC Porto, 2003/04
An occasion etched in the memory, this was just the start for eventual champions Porto. Two Benni McCarthy goals helped them to a 2-1 first-leg win in the first European match at their new Estádio do Dragão, but it was the Old Trafford return which catapulted José Mourinho into global football consciousness. Heading out on away goals, Porto progressed thanks to Costinha's 90th-minute effort – cue Mourinho's famous charge down the touch line.
Chelsea FC 5-4 FC Barcelona, 2004/05
For sheer impudence and execution, Ronaldinho's second at Stamford Bridge is one of the most enduringly memorable UEFA Champions League goals. It remains, however, a mere footnote in a thrilling tie. Unperturbed by a 2-1 loss and a red card for Didier Drogba at Camp Nou, Chelsea were 3-0 up after just 19 minutes of the return leg. If Ronaldinho's double threatened to derail the west London club, a header from captain John Terry finally secured a notable victory.
Juventus 4-4 SV Werder Bremen (Juve win on away goals), 2005/06
The opening instalment appeared tame enough: 1-1 with eight minutes left, the tie seemed evenly balanced. However, David Trezeguet then found a (decisive) second away goal for Juve, only for Tim Borowski and Johan Micoud to put Bremen on top at 3-2. When the latter struck again early at the Delle Alpi, Bremen looked home and dry. There was still time, though, for Trezeguet and Emerson to give the Bundesliga side a taste of their own medicine.
FC Bayern München 4-4 Real Madrid CF (Bayern win on away goals), 2006/07
Two goals in four minutes – 1,500km and a fortnight apart – turned this contest on its head. Madrid were 3-1 up at home courtesy of Raúl González and Ruud van Nistelrooy, until Mark van Bommel's 88th-minute effort renewed Bayern's hope for the return match in Munich. There, Roy Makaay levelled the tie with the competition's fastest goal and Lúcio rubber-stamped victory, although Van Nistelrooy's late score made for a nervy finish.
Sevilla FC 5-5 Fenerbahçe SK (Fenerbahçe win 3-2 on pens), 2007/08
That Sevilla led this tie twice but still went out speaks volumes. Zico's charges edged in front through Mateja Kežman and Diego Lugano in their home leg in Istanbul, only to be pegged back on each occasion. Semih Şentürk did eventually earn Fenerbahçe a first-leg lead, yet Sevilla came roaring back at home and were 11 minutes from victory – before being taken to extra time. Neither team could find the knockout punch, allowing Volkan Demirel to become the hero with three shoot-out saves.
FC Bayern München 12-1 Sporting Clube de Portugal, 2008/09
The biggest aggregate triumph in UEFA Champions League history, this was scarcely a contest from the moment Franck Ribéry fired Bayern ahead just before half-time in Lisbon. A 5-0 victory ensued and the tie was finished – Bayern, though, were not. Back at home, six different goalscorers helped them to equal the single-leg record for the largest winning margin in the knockout stages. Sporting's wounds had been well and truly salted.
Manchester United FC 7-2 AC Milan, 2009/10
United may not quite have matched their feat of hitting seven past AS Roma in one game three seasons previously, but this was another all-conquering display from Sir Alex Ferguson's side. Two Wayne Rooney goals contributed to a 3-2 success at San Siro which was the preamble to a vintage Old Trafford performance. Rooney was again at the double as United's pace, power and purpose secured a memorable victory.
FC Bayern München 3-3 FC Internazionale Milano (Inter win on away goals), 2010/11
A repeat of the 2010 final promised much and did not fail to deliver. Though Bayern goalkeeper Thomas Kraft's fine showing set the stage for Mario Gomez's 90th-minute winner in Milan, Inter would not relinquish their grip on the trophy without a fight. Samuel Eto'o swiftly drew them level at Fußball Arena München, but Bayern were 3-1 up on aggregate inside 31 minutes. Cue Wesley Sneijder and, two minutes from time, Goran Pandev.
APOEL FC 1-1 Olympique Lyonnais (APOEL win 4-3 on pens), 2011/12
The first Cypriot team to reach the knockout stage, APOEL's mission looked even tougher when they lost 1-0 in Lyon. Ivan Jovanović's side had shown themselves to be quite the surprise package, however, and took the tie into extra time thanks to an early goal from Gustavo Manduca in Nicosia. Not even the same player's 115th-minute red card could halt APOEL, who had goalkeeper Dionisios Chiotis to thank in the shoot-out.
FC Bayern München 3-3 Arsenal FC (Bayern win on away goals), 2012/13
Jupp Heynckes' men were rampant in the first leg in north London, going 2-0 up inside 21 minutes through Toni Kroos and Thomas Müller. While Lukas Podolski pulled one back against his old club, Mario Mandžukić restored Bayern's two-goal cushion to leave the Gunners a mountainous task in Bavaria. Olivier Giroud earned them early hope and Laurent Koscielny made for a frantic final few minutes, but Bayern hung on. They would be back in the English capital in May.
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