Five of the biggest wins in Champions League history

For many footballers, merely listening to the iconic Champions League theme tune makes the hairs on the back of their neck stand up. There is something theatrical, and wonderful about Europe’s elite competition which has been littered with many special memories.

We have bore witness to some incredible comebacks which supreised everyone even predictions sites, and there have been some goal fests too. Matches have been lit up by spectacular goals, and there has been the usual heartbreak along the way.

But there have also been some drubbings down the years. In this piece, we will reminisce on five of the biggest wins in the competition’s history phase by phase.

Liverpool 8 – 0 Besiktas

(Group stage – November 2017)

After yielding just one point from their opening three Group A matches, Liverpool were anchored to the bottom of the table. But the Reds responded in emphatic fashion with a landmark victory.

While the atmosphere may have been tense in the run-up to kick-off, Liverpool expunged any fears with a devastating display. Peter Crouch gave the hosts the lead in the 19th minute when he reacted quickest to a rebound in the box.

Yossi Benayoun doubled Liverpool’s advantage shortly after the hour mark to give the Reds a comfortable 2-0 lead at the interval, and after the restart, Liverpool ran riot. By the 56th minute, Benayoun had completed his hat-trick. Steven Gerrard got in on the act before Ryan Babbel bagged a brace. Crouch completed the scoring when he glanced a header home from a Benayoun cross to round off a coruscating display.

Bayern Munich 7 – 0 Basel

( Round of 16 second leg – March 2012)

Bayern Munich were a team on a mission that night. In the second leg, the Bundesliga had to overturn a 1-0 deficit. And Bayern were single-minded as they tore their Swiss opponents to shreds.

Arjen Robben got the ball rolling in the 11th minute when he dispatched a crisp, low finish into the bottom corner of the net past Yann Sommer. Thomas Muller managed to relieve some pressure when he volleyed in at the near post to give Bayern a 2-1 aggregate lead on the night.

The pressure was unrelenting, and the night belonged to Mario Gomez, who powered home four goals, and then Robben put the finishing touches on the landslide victory – the biggest in the knockout stages of the competition!

Manchester United 7 – 1 Roma

(Quarter-final second leg – April 2007)

There was something special in the air at Old Trafford. But how many would have predicted this result? When it comes to the bet exchange, United usually trade with short odds to go deep in the Champions League, such is their pedigree in the competition.

And they produced a ferocious attacking display as they swept aside Roma. Although they were a goal down from the first leg, Sir Alex Ferguson’s men blitzed aside their Serie A opponents with first-half goals from Michael Carrick, Alan Smith, Wayne Rooney, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

After the interval, Ronaldo, Carrick, and Patrice Evra added further strikes to cap an incredible evening for the Red Devils, as they overcame a first-leg deficit in Europe since 1984.

Bayern 4 – 0 Barcelona

(Semi-finals first leg – April 2013)

Bayern can turn things on at the switch of a button, and unfortunately for Barcelona, they were on the receiving end of things. Harnessing the home support, Bayern blew away Barça, and left the four-time winners a mountain to climb for the second leg.

Although Barça had the better of things in the early stages, Bayern wouldn’t be tamed. Muller started and finished the scoring, with strikes from Gomez and Robben sandwiched in between.

Bayern went on to reach their third final in four years, but the trouncing of Barça was a watermark moment in their illustrious history.

AC Milan 4 – 0 Barcelona

(Final – May 1994)

Milan 4-0 FC Barcelona, final de la Champions League 1993/94. https://t.co/F8dAA7Y5iE pic.twitter.com/XRkHhVIY1U

— Spazio Milan 🇮🇹 (@SpazioMilan) March 16, 2020

There are few things worse than losing a cup final, let alone the Champions League final. But to be humiliated in the manner that Barça were, was astonishing.

Milan had gone into the final as underdogs, but they produced what can only be described as the perfect display to lift the trophy. Fabio Capello was bold with his tactics, but it paid off, and how! Daniele Massaro volleyed Milan into the lead in the 22nd minute before he doubled his side’s advantage on the stroke of half-time with a thunderous strike on the edge of the area.

Dejan Savicevic made it 3-0 with a sublime lob before Marcel Desailly wrapped up a remarkable victory.