The Europa League final between Atalanta and Leverkusen is just around the corner, and avid fans surely expect a handful of Europa League 2024 highlights to cement this iteration of the tournament’s final as one of the best in the history of the contest. Leverkusen are a win away from landing a historic treble, while Atalanta’s double hunt intensifies. Expect fireworks!
The stage is set, the Europa League 2024 betting odds are up, and the entire football world is on the edge of their seats in anticipation. But before fans flock to Aviva Stadium, let’s take a trip down memory lane and relive two of the most iconic finals of the illustrious European tournament.
Ipswich Town 5-4 agg. AZ Alkmaar (1981)
Let’s start things off with a gem, shall we? While the Europa League final in general features famous and familiar European football clubs, the 1981 UEFA Cup final was contested between Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar and Championship staple Ipswich Town.
AZ were having a stellar campaign in the Eredivisie, winning the title with six games to spare, and it seemed like they were bound for European glory as well.
Ipswich had a great season in the domestic scene themselves; in fact, it was one of the most successful seasons in the club’s history, as they finished as runners-up in the league championship, were semi-finalists in the FA Cup, and were tussling against AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Cup.
For the first 25 years of the UEFA Cup (now Europa League), the cup final was played in two legs, and in the first leg of the 1981 final, Ipswich took advantage of home advantage and proceeded to dominate AZ with a 3-0 score line at Portman Road.
The Tractor Boys picked up where they left off in the second leg and took an early lead to extend their aggregate advantage, but the best outfit in Dutch football didn’t go out without a fight.
AZ rallied and scored three rapid-fire goals in the first half, needing just one more goal to force extra time. Both teams proceeded to score one more goal apiece, ending the match with a 4-2 score line, making AZ the winners of the match but 5-4 losers on aggregate.
The dramatic tail-end efforts by AZ and the unlikely pairing of Ipswich Town solidify this UEFA Cup final as one of the best in the history of the tournament.
Liverpool 5-4 Alaves (2001)
The 2001 UEFA Cup final between Liverpool and Alaves comes down as the greatest final in the history of the tournament; at least this SBOTOP writer thinks so.
This final was cinematic, to say the least. The football world was gifted nine total goals, two red cards, a penalty, a golden goal, an inspired comeback, and ultimately, a trophy, which completed the treble aspirations of Liverpool.
The drama and the highlights began lick clockwork, as the Reds found themselves up two goals by minute 16 thanks to the efforts of Markus Babbel and Steven Gerrard. With an early two-goal lead, the Reds looked like they were poised to cruise past the Spanish side and cakewalk towards their treble-setting trophy, or so they thought.
What happened next was an all-out brawl. Alaves and Liverpool began to exchange goals like they were tennis players going on a rally. Trailing 2-0, Ivan delivered a strong header, smashing the ball past the outstretched arm of the Liverpool keeper, bringing the score line to 2-1. McAllister then successfully converted a penalty attempt to give the Reds back their two-goal lead before halftime.
With a score of 3-1 entering the second half, Moreno, like his teammate in the first half, headed a goal to bring Alaves back in striking distance, then found the back of the net a few minutes later with a beautiful long-range attempt, giving him a brace and levelling the game 3-3 to boot.
Sensing the pressure, Liverpool’s Fowler put matters into his own hands and proceeded to gracefully dribble in traffic before chipping the ball into the net, giving the Reds back their lead, but Liverpool’s glee quickly went away when Cruyff headed in a corner attempt to bring the game to 4-4.
If you thought things couldn’t get any more dramatic, the deciding goal, the goal that gave Liverpool the UEFA Cup title, and the goal that completed their treble came from an own goal. Alaves made a living in this match with their headers, but unfortunately for them, Geli’s header went into their own goal, giving Liverpool the lead 5-4.
The nine-goal thriller saw the Reds lift the trophy for the record-equalling third time, etching their name as one of the greatest teams in European football history.
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