1998/99: Solskjær answers United's prayers

Manchester United FC 2-1 FC Bayern München
(Sheringham 90, Solskjær 90; Basler 6)
Camp Nou, Barcelona
 
To most observers, Manchester United FC's UEFA Champions League win was the last act in the rehabilitation of English football following the Heysel stadium tragedy. The path to the quarter and semi-finals had been well trod by Sir Alex Ferguson's side after English clubs were readmitted to European competition in 1990. Yet it always seemed to end in disappointment and talk about the effects of the five-year ban.

All doubts were erased, though, when United beat Internazionale FC and Juventus FC to reach the final against FC Bayern München. United had trailed 2-0 at the Delle Alpi, 3-1 on aggregate, before fighting back to win with goals from Roy Keane, Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole. Why do it the easy way? Indeed, the Red Devils appeared to have the class and confidence to deal with any situation, including a second-round qualifier against LKS Lódz and a tough early draw comprising Bayern, FC Barcelona and Brøndby IF. The Bavarians actually won the group thanks to home and away wins over Barça and two draws against United.

They followed that with a 6-0 aggregate thrashing of 1. FC Kaiserslautern and then took their chances to defeat FC Dynamo Kyiv in the semi-finals. Mario Basler's effort divided the sides after a 3-3 draw in Ukraine, and the playmaker struck again with the first goal of the Camp Nou final. But then a miracle happened. United scored twice in the dying seconds, through substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær, to add the European Champion Clubs' Cup to their FA Premiership/FA Cup double.