Every time English sides have met in a European final | OneFootball

Tottenham Hotspur will face Manchester United in the Europa League final this month, a clash with much more than just silverware at stake.

Both sides have endured unforeseen seasons of struggle in the Premier League and victory will secure both silverware and Champions League qualification. For Ange Postecoglou, a European triumph might just be the only way to save his skin at Spurs. Meanwhile, success for Manchester United could be the springboard Ruben Amorim so badly needs for his rebuild.

It’s a fascinating all-Premier League showdown and we’ve looked back at every European final to be contested between English sides.

Every European final between English teams

Tottenham 3-2 Wolves – 1971/72 UEFA Cup final

The first-ever UEFA Cup final saw Tottenham and Wolves go head-to-head, as UEFA launched it’s new club competition.

The decider was played over two legs. Martin Chivers scored twice as Spurs won 2-1 at Molineux in the first meeting. A fortnight later, a 1-1 draw in North London saw Spurs succeed on aggregate, securing the club’s second European trophy after UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup success nine years earlier.

Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea – 2007/08 Champions League final (Man United won 6-5 on penalties)

It was 36 years before English sides next met in a European decider, when Manchester United faced Chelsea in the Champions League final.

Manchester United had edged a fiercely contested Premier League title race between the sides, before beating Chelsea on penalties to seal European success in Moscow. Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring with a magnificent header at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, but Frank Lampard levelled for Chelsea on the stroke of half-time.

The sides were unable to be separated across 120 minutes, while Chelsea were reduced to 10 men late in extra time after Didier Drogba’s red card.

In the shootout, Ronaldo missed first for Manchester United. However, John Terry squandered the chance to win a maiden Champions League title for Chelsea. The Chelsea captain slipped on a rain-soaked pitch, with his effort hitting the post as the shootout went to sudden death.

Edwin van der Sar’s save from Nicolas Anelka won the trophy for Manchester United, securing their third Champions League crown.

Chelsea 4-1 Arsenal – 2018/19 Europa League final

Chelsea thrashed Arsenal as the London rivals met in the 2018/19 Europa League final. The competition’s first-ever final to feature two teams from the same city ended in Chelsea’s favour, with the Blues inspired by Eden Hazard.

In his final appearance for the Blues, Hazard scored twice, adding to goals from ex-Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud and Pedro. Alex Iwobi’s response for Arsenal was little consolation, as the Gunners crashed to defeat in Baku.

For Unai Emery, it is his sole defeat in five Europa League finals, having won the competition four times as a manager. He lifted the trophy with Sevilla in 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16 and again with Villarreal in 2020/21.

Tottenham Hotspur 0-2 Liverpool – 2018/19 Champions League final

English football dominated UEFA competitions in 2018/19, with Premier League sides contesting both the Champions League and Europa League finals.

In the former, Liverpool were crowned European champions for a sixth time after a 2-0 win over Spurs in Madrid. Mohamed Salah opened the scoring after 106 seconds from the penalty spot, after Moussa Sissoko had been penalised for a handball.

Liverpool clinched the trophy late on, when Divock Origi doubled their lead.

Jurgen Klopp’s side went on to beat Chelsea on penalties in the 2019 UEFA Super Cup.

Manchester City 0-1 Chelsea – 2020/21 Champions League final

Chelsea caused an upset to win the 2020/21 Champions League, beating Manchester City 1-0 in Porto. Thomas Tuchel had taken over in West London just five months earlier but guided the Blues to their second Champions League title.

Kai Havertz scored the decisive goal, as Chelsea extended Manchester City’s wait for an elusive European crown.

Chelsea ended the campaign 19 points behind champions Manchester City in the Premier League table.

Read – When is the 2025 Europa League final? Date, kick-off time and venue

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