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Seven of the best European ties between teams for the same league

Since 2000, there have been over 40 ties in the knockout stages of the Champions League and UEFA ...



Seven of the best European tie...
Soccer

Seven of the best European ties between teams for the same league

Since 2000, there have been over 40 ties in the knockout stages of the Champions League and UEFA Cup/Europa League involving teams from the same countries.

On Tuesday evening, that list will grow even more Barcelona welcome Atletico Madrid to the Nou Camp in the Champions League quarter-finals. Already this year in the Europa League, Liverpool have defeated Manchester United and Athletic Bilbao have knocked out Valencia. The Basque side will face La Liga rivals Sevilla in the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday.

Here are seven of the most memorable ties, involving teams from seven different countries in all three competitions since the start of the century.

2005: Champions League Quarter-Final. AC Milan 5-0 Inter Milan

The Milan giants met in the 2003 semi-finals before the Rossoneri advanced to the final on away goals. Two years later, the result was not in doubt between the sides as Milan won 5-0 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.

Although both games took place in the San Siro, Milan won their home game 2-0 before recording a 3-0 win in the second-leg. The second leg was abandoned after 72 minutes when the score was 1-0. As he did in the first leg, Andriy Shevchenko scored in the second leg before Inter fans threw flares onto the pitch, one of which hit Milan goalkeeper Dida. AC Milan were awarded a 3-0 second-leg win by UEFA.

AC Milan's goalkeeper Dida receives first aid after being hit by an object thrown by fans. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

2006: UEFA Cup Round of 16. Rapid Bucharest 1-1 Steaua Bucharest

The rivalry in Romania between Rapid Bucharest and Steaua Bucharest is always intense, but took on a new rivalry when the teams met for the first time in European competition in 2006. 

A place in the UEFA Cup semi-finals was at place for the winner over two legs and it was Steaua who reached the last four. A 1-1 draw in the first leg away from home was enough as a Banel Nicolita goal five minutes into the game proved to be the crucial goal of the tie.

Steaua were knocked out in the semi-finals by Middlesborough, who in turn were defeated in the final by Sevilla.

Steaua Bucharest's Mirel Radoi, right, and Sorin Ghionea, left, celebrate after defeating city rivals Rapid on away goals. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

2009: Champions League Quarter-Final. Liverpool 5-7 Chelsea

For five seasons in a row, Liverpool and Chelsea met in various stages of the Champions League. From the group stages to the semi-finals the two teams were always drawn together between 2005 and 2009.

The most entertaining, but possibly least remembered of those ties was the 2009 quarter-final, especially the second leg in Anfield which finished 4-4. Two goals from Branislav Ivanovic helped Chelsea to a 3-1 win in Anfield, before the open encounter in Stamford Bridge led to eight goals.

Liverpool took a 2-0 lead in the first half an hour to level the tie on aggregate, before Chelsea scored three inside 25 second half minutes. Three goals were scored inside the final ten minutes as Liverpool took a 4-3 lead (and needed one more to advance) before Frank Lampard scored in the final minute to send Chelsea through to the semi-finals.

Chelsea's Frank Lampard celebrates his goal in the second leg. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

2009: UEFA Cup Semi-Final. Dynamo Kiev 2-3 Shakhtar Donetsk

Shakhtar Donetsk had already beaten Ukranian opposition in Metalist Kharkiv in the Round of 16 before they were drawn against Dynamo Kiev in the semi-finals.

Two of Ukraine's most famous teams of the 21st century met in European competition for the first time. After a 1-1 draw in Kiev in the first leg, Shakhtar won 2-1 in the RSC Olimpiyskiy with goals from the Brazilian duo of Jadson and Ilsinho. The second and crucial goal came in the 89th minute.

Shakhtar went on to beat Werder Bremen in the final for the only European title in the club's history.

Ilsinho of Shakhtar Donetsk celebrates his goal. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

2011: Europa League Final. Porto 1-0 Braga

It is forgotten by many that Braga spoiled a potential O Classico Europa League final between Porto and Benfica in Dublin. Braga, led by former Portuguese manager Domingos were the surprise package of the tournament defeating Liverpool and Dynamo Kiev on the way to the final.

Andres Villas-Boas was in the early stages of his managerial career and was seen as a younger version of Jose Mourinho when he led Porto to the win in the Aviva Stadium. Radamel Falcao scored the game's only goal just before half-time and Porto won the tournament's first all-Portuguese final.

Falcao of Porto celebrates scoring the first goal of the game with supporters Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Donall Farmer

2013: Champions League Final. Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Bayern Munich

When the semi-final draw was made for the Champions League semi-finals, most expected an El Clasico final as Real Madrid face Borussia Dortmund. In the other semi-final Bayern Munich defeated Barcelona.

Instead of the all-Spanish final, Germany's best two sides met in Wembley in the Champions League final. Bayern won the league and were in the German Cup final (knocking Dortmund out along the way) before winning 2-1 in Wembley. An Arjen Robben goal in the 89th minute gave the Bavarians victory on front of over 86,000 fans in North London.

Bayern's Arjen Robben scores his side's second goal past Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller.  (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

2014: Champions League Final. Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid

In the history of the Champions League, there has been numerous finals involving sides from the same country. The 2014 final in Lisbon was the first involving teams from the same city.

The final saw two separate but equally compelling narratives. After winning the La Liga title the week before, Atletico were looking to win their first European Cup. The cross-city rivals were looking for their tenth to finally win La Decima.

It looked like the trophy would be going to the Vicente Calderon for the first time as Atletico led 1-0 as the final entered added time. Sergio Ramos scored one of the most famous goals in Real's history in the third minute of added time to send the game to extra time.

Atletico's players ran out of energy in the second period, conceding three goals in the final ten minutes. The 4-1 result flattered Real in one of the most even finals in recent memory.

Real's Sergio Ramos scores his side's first goal. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)

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