It's Europa League final night tonight, as Chelsea head to Amsterdam with only Benfica standing between them and a second European trophy in as many years. You might be saving yourself for the big one, the Champions league decider on Saturday week. So, as a helpful service, we're here to warn you off that way of thinking. Missing UEFA Cup/Europa League finals can be perilous for your health. And we've got some examples to back up our claim.
When looking for top class entertainment there can be a habit amongst many to dismiss the Europa League as a second rate, always inferior cousin of the all encompassing Champions League. But we’ve put together a few examples of finals that provided more entertainment than any football fan could reasonably ask for.
Liverpool 5-4 Alaves, 2001
The Champions League greatest final was the 2005 vintage, with Liverpool taking comebacks beyond even the credibility of a Roy of the Rovers comic strip. However, it has a potent challenger for the greatest European final of all time in the shape of the 200/01 UEFA Cup final, between Liverpoool (again) and Alaves, of Spain.
A 5-4 thriller, one part of Liverpool’s cup treble and a game that nobody who watched it can ever forget. Nine goals, two red cards and a game decided with an extra-time, golden goal, own goal.
Liverpool had knocked out Roma, Porto and Barcelona to get to the final, but nothing quite prepared them for the challenge of Alaves.
Celtic 2-3 Porto, 2003
A game remembered by Celtic fans for the seemingly endless, shameless diving and playacting of the Porto players. A game remembered by the rest of the football world more so as the moment we first took serious notice of Jose Mourinho.
Porto were twice ahead, but Celtic – led by Henrik Larsson and driven by an incredible travelling support – refused to go quietly, twice levelling the game. Celtic’s presence gave the game the feel of a very special event, but the football served up turned into a classic.
Sevilla 2-2 Espanyol, 2007
An all Spanish affair, and one that gave as good an account of the country’s football as could be hoped. More reckless, manic frenzy of attacking football than tactical duel, it was pure end to end action and seemingly without regard for defensive traditions. 43 shots rained in on goal before the referee had to drag the two sides off each other and use penalties to settle up for once and for all.
Sevilla won to retain the trophy and Espanyol were consoled over the next few years by knowing that at least one team from their city was winning European trophies.
