The UEFA Champions League is indisputably the pinnacle of European club football, a stage where iconic clubs and legendary players etch their names into history. Over the years, the big guns have dominated. Real Madrid have lifted the trophy a whopping 15 times, more than twice as many as the next most successful team, AC Milan. Their most recent triumph came just last season when the Spanish giants beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at Wembley thanks to goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior.
But while they, and many others of their ilk, have claimed silverware time and again, on occasion, underdogs rise to the fore to rival the heavyweights. Here are the most surprising UEFA Champions League finalists of all time,
Borussia Dortmund
German side Borussia Dortmund reached the Champions League final over a decade ago and even won the competition back in 1997. However, when they were making their way to the final last season, the landscape looked markedly different. Perpetually caught in Bayern Munich’s shadow in the Bundesliga and with a youthful, transitioning squad, few believed they could mount a serious charge in Europe. Yet, the Black-and-Yellow brigade turned naysayers into believers.
Their spirited campaign was nothing short of extraordinary. Die Schwarzgelben topped the group of death ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, and Newcastle United. And that was just the start. They knocked off former finalists Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals and beat PSG again in the semis, setting up a date with Real Madrid in the final.
Despite being a huge betting underdog for the final, BVB probably should have led after Karim Adeyemi and Niclas Fullkrug both missed chances. Then, they were punished. Second-half goals took the title to Madrid, breaking Dortmund’s hearts in the process.
The Signal Iduna Park side is alive in the tournament this season despite their woeful displays in the Bundesliga. And once again, online sports betting sites don’t fancy their chances. The latest live sports betting odds from Bovada currently make Dortmund a rank +4000 outsider for the trophy, and they will have to summon up their spirit from last season if they are to defy the odds once again. It will be fascinating to see if they can do it and change the bookies’ tune!
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham’s journey to the 2019 Champions League final was as improbable as it was thrilling—in fact, it bordered on cinematic. The North London club’s history in Europe’s top competition was modest at best, and their domestic form leading up to the knockout stages wasn’t exactly inspiring. Without a single major transfer for two straight windows and battling injuries to key players like Harry Kane, Spurs entered the knockout rounds as an afterthought.
But football has a way of defying logic, and Tottenham’s campaign was a masterclass in how belief and determination can overcome even the toughest odds. They produced a jaw-dropping quarterfinal upset of Manchester City in perhaps one of the greatest ties of all time, securing progression on away goals thanks to Fernando Llorente’s late goal in a roller coaster 4-3 loss that saw them progress on away goals.
Then came their semifinal against Ajax—a fairytale clash in its own right. Spurs lost the first leg at home and were 2-0 down on the night in Amsterdam. Down 3-0 on aggregate with just 45 minutes to play, Lucas Moura emerged as the hero. The Brazilian winger netted a stunning hat trick – the third of which came in the 96th minute – to seal his side’s spot in the final against all odds.
They met Liverpool in Madrid to contest the second-ever all-English final, but unfortunately, it wasn’t to be. Goals from Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi sealed the trophy for the Reds, and Spurs haven’t mounted a deep run since.
Atlético Madrid
Atlético Madrid, under Diego Simeone, redefined what it means to be gritty, determined, and utterly fearless on Europe’s grandest stage. While they’ve established themselves as a consistent force in the years since, back then, they were an unproven commodity.
The 2014 campaign saw Atleti rise above their reputation as perennial disruptors of Spain’s “big two.” Capturing La Liga in stunning fashion after snatching a late equalizer in a final-day title decider against Barcelona in the Camp Nou, they carried their bullish form into Europe. Despite possessing far fewer resources than their two illustrious compatriots, Simeone’s men thrived on the big stage with their never-say-die attitude.
In the final, they met their fierce cross-city rivals, Real Madrid, marking the first time the showpiece fixture had been contested by two teams from the same city. Against all odds, they actually took the lead when Diego Godin nodded over Iker Casillas. However, Los Blancos equalized at the death thanks to Sergio Ramos’ bullet header, before dismantling Los Rojiblancos in extra time to ultimately win 4-1.
Two years later, Atleti were up to their old tricks once again. They again eliminated Lionel Messi’s Barcelona in the quarterfinals before beating Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich in the semis. Unfortunately for them, though, their nemesis Real awaited in the final.
Just as was the case two years before, Real came out on top. Ramos again scored, this time to open the scoring. However, Atletico equalized in the second half through Yannick Carrasco and took the tie to extra time and eventually penalties. Fullback Juanfran was the unlucky man. He was the only player to miss for either side, hitting the post and allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to sweep home and take the title to the Bernabeu once again.