Only a few clubs in football’s long history can rival the overwhelming legacy of AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League. The Rossoneri has been a dominant figure in Italy and across Europe since the club’s inauguration in 1866. From their emergence as a European powerhouse in the competition’s early years to their recent trophy drought, Milan’s journey has witnessed multiple triumphs, iconic players, unforgettable matches, and periods of reinvention.
The UEFA Champions League previously called the European Cup began in the 1955-56 season, and AC Milan quickly made their mark on the newly introduced tournament. Their first notable run came in 1957/58 when they fought their way into the finals but were edged off 3-2 by their biggest competitors – Real Madrid. The loss marked the start of Milan’s dominant presence among Europe’s elite clubs. Following their successes in the Serie A, they became a constant contender in Europe’s top flight.
AC Milan’s European breakthrough came in 1963 under the legendary coach Nereo Rocco and with Cesare Maldini as the team captain. José Altafini scored twice in the final to hand the Rossoneri a 2-1 victory over Benfica at the Wembley Stadium to claim their first European Cup victory. It was a defining moment for the club and Italy as a nation which won its first European championship. Four years later (1969), Milan replicated the success by beating Ajax 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu. Gianni Rivera and Pierino Prati fronted AC Milan’s exceptional display throughout the tournament. The latter’s hat-trick remains one of the most iconic individual performances in European Cup final history.
The 1970s were a relatively quiet decade for Milan in European competitions. While the club continued to dominate domestically at the Serie A and won other continental trophies like the Cup Winners’ Cup, their form in the European Cup declined. Financial struggles played a crucial role in hindering Milan’s European ambitions in the 1980s, even though it was a time that experienced massive performances from other Italian clubs like Inter Milan and Juventus. The 1986 changes that handed the club over to media magnate Silvio Berlusconi saw the Rossoneri rebuild and flourish in the next two years. He brought Arrigo Sacchi as a coach and signed world-class players such as Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, and Frank Rijkaard for the Italian side.
With Sacchi at the sidelines, AC Milan became Europe’s best-performing club. They won back-to-back European Cups in 1989 and 1990 by thrashing Steaua Bucharest 4-0 in the final in Barcelona and defended their title by defeating Benfica 1-0 in Vienna, thanks to a Rijkaard goal.
After Sacchi’s departure, Fabio Capello took over and continued Milan’s history of wins. In 1994, they achieved one of their most iconic victories in the Champions League by demolishing Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona “Dream Team” 4-0 in the final in Athens. Goals from Daniele Massaro, Dejan Savićević, and Marcel Desailly overpowered the impressive Catalans and heightened Milan’s superiority on the European stage.
Following the 1994 victory, Milan had to wait another decade to get their hands on the continent’s most prestigious trophy. The arrival of Carlo Ancelotti as coach in 2001 marked the beginning of another golden era. In 2003, Milan won its sixth European title (now called the UEFA Champions League) in an all-Italian final with Juventus. It was only the second time two teams from the same League battled at the finals and the first between Italian teams. The game in Manchester saw a tense 0-0 draw and headed into penalties. Andriy Shevchenko scored the decisive penalty to win it 3-2 for the Rossoneri.
In 2005, Milan reached the final again but suffered one of the most heartbreaking defeats in football history, against England’s Liverpool. They squandered a 3-0 halftime lead in Istanbul to settle as runners-up. In 2007, they reclaimed the title by beating Liverpool 2-1 in Athens to win their seventh Champions League title. Current Inter Milan head coach Filippo Inzaghi scored twice to edge off the star-stubbed team and return the trophy to Italy.
After their victory in 2007, Milan’s fortunes in European football gradually declined. Despite winning qualifications in multiple seasons, the club has failed to replicate its past accomplishments. They last reached the Champions League quarterfinals in 2012 and endured a long absence from the competition between 2014 and 2021. Issues surrounding bad performances at the Serie A, UEFA Financial fair play, and managerial instability were key reasons for their absence.
The club has recently seen signs of revival under new ownership and leadership. In the 2021/22 season, Milan returned to the Champions League, and in 2022/23, they made a strong run to the semifinals. The 2024/25 season introduced the League phase in Champions League football and the Rossoneri are adapting quite quickly to it. Despite losing their first two games, they turned the tables with back-to-back wins that currently fit them into a playoff spot. The 3-1 victory against Madrid in the Santiago Bernabeu was a standout and commanding display for P. Fonseca’s men.
With seven titles, AC Milan remains the second-most successful club in Champions League history, behind only Real Madrid. While the club’s modern journey is one of rebuilding, its legacy in the Champions League continues to inspire fans and players alike, from great names like Altafini, Maldini, Van Basten, Shevchenko, Kaka, and beyond. The club’s blend of talented, youthful, and experienced players will surely propel them to reclaim the success they have enjoyed in the competition over the decade shortly.
Upcoming Champions League Games
This November, the UEFA Champions League returns to your screens with enticing battles between Europe’s elite clubs. While many would fight for survival and redemption, others would battle to secure early qualification into the knockout rounds. Here is a list of Gameweek 5 fixtures of the 2024/25 UCL season;
Tuesday, 26th November
SK Slovan Bratislava vs. AC Milan — 17:45
Venue: Tehelné pole Stadium, Bratislava
Sparta Prague vs. Atletico Madrid — 17:45
Venue: epet Arena, Prague
BSC Young Boys Bern vs. Atalanta — 20:00
Venue: Wankdorf Stadium, Bern
Barcelona vs Brest — 20:00
Venue: Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona
Bayer Leverkusen vs Red Bull Salzburg — 20:00
Venue: BayArena, Leverkusen
Bayern Munich vs Paris Saint-Germain — 20:00
Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich
Inter Milan vs RB Leipzig — 20:00
Venue: San Siro, Milan
Manchester City vs Feyenoord — 20:00
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Sporting Lisbon vs Arsenal — 20:00
Venue: Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon
Wednesday, 27th November
Crvena Zvezda vs Stuttgart — 17:45
Venue: Rajko Mitić Stadium, Belgrade
Sturm Graz vs Girona — 17:45
Venue: Merkur Arena, Graz
Aston Villa vs Juventus — 20:00
Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham
Bologna vs Lille — 20:00
Venue: Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, Bologna
Celtic vs Club Brugge — 20:00
Venue: Celtic Park, Glasgow
Dinamo Zagreb vs Borussia Dortmund — 20:00
Venue: Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb
Liverpool vs Real Madrid — 20:00
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool
Monaco vs Benfica — 20:00
Venue: Stade Louis II, Monaco
PSV Eindhoven vs Shakhtar Donetsk — 20:00
Venue: Philips Stadion, Eindhoven
Be Live At Champions League Games Across Europe
Act swiftly, secure Champions League final tickets while they are still available, and be part of these highly anticipated games. With demand soaring, explore seat maps, compare prices, and find the ideal vantage point for an unforgettable experience. While official sites have witnessed a rapid sell-out due to overwhelming demand, trusted reseller platforms remain your go-to place for being part of the electrifying action.
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