Manchester United’s epic journey to victory in the 2007-2008 Champions League is one of the most impressive moments in football history.
Under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United started the competition strongly, showing consistent performance from the group stage. They advanced as group winners with 16 points from six matches, scoring 13 goals and conceding only 4.
In the round of 16, they faced Olympique Lyonnais and advanced with a 2-1 aggregate, thanks to goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez. In the quarter-finals, they met AS Roma and once again showed dominance with a 3-0 aggregate win.
The real test for United came in the semi-final against Barcelona. After a goalless draw at Camp Nou, they won the second leg at Old Trafford 1-0, thanks to a spectacular sole goal by Paul Scholes.
The final held at Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, on May 21, 2008, was a battle between two English teams, Manchester United and Chelsea, marking the first all-English final in the history of the European Cup. The match ended in a 1-1 draw after regular and extra time, with goals from Cristiano Ronaldo for United and a reply from Frank Lampard for Chelsea.
The tense penalty shootout determined the winner. Although Ronaldo missed his penalty, John Terry and Nicolas Anelka from Chelsea also failed, allowing Edwin van der Sar to become the hero by saving Anelka’s penalty. Manchester United ultimately won the shootout 6-5, securing their third Champions League title.
This victory was made even more special as it occurred in the same year as the 50th anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster, adding emotion and significance for the club and its fans. Cristiano Ronaldo was the tournament’s top scorer with 8 goals, and the victory marked the peak of one of the most successful eras in Manchester United’s history.
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