Instances where English club faced an Italian club in Champions League final

It is always a massive occasion when teams from both countries clash for European supremacy.

Manchester City and Inter Milan will play each other in the final of the UEFA Champions League on 11 June 2023 at the iconic Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey. The 68th edition of the tournament will see a team from England and a team from Italy clash in the final for the fifth time in its history. It will also be the first time that an English team apart from Liverpool FC meets an Italian team in the final of the competition.

In the past, a Premier League side and an Italian Serie A side have taken up arms in the final of the Champions League on four occasions. It is the second instance for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to reach the final of the biggest stage in European club football, and they will aim to win it for the first time ever. As for Inter Milan, the side beat AC Milan in the semi-final, and they have a chance at winning the UCL for the fourth time in their history.

As the excitement for the final of the 2022-23 edition of the UEFA Champions League builds up, here is a look at four times when teams from England and Italy have clashed in the final of the tournament:

1984: Liverpool (4) 1 - 1 (2) A.S. Roma

The first time when an English team met an Italian team in the final of the European championships was back in 1984. Liverpool played AS Roma for the trophy and emerged victorious in penalties. 

The final took place in Rome but the Reds turned out to be party poopers for the Italians in attendance. The score was 1-1 in regulation period plus extra time, and Alan Kennedy scored the winning spot kick for the Premier League side.

1985: Juventus 1 - 0 Liverpool

Liverpool reached another UEFA Champions League final in 1985, after winning the previous edition of the tournament. This time, the Reds came up against Juventus and the result did not go their way.

The Old Lady scored the only goal of the game courtesy of Michel Platini, who converted his penalty despite the pressure.

2005: Liverpool (3) 3 - 3 (2) AC Milan

The final of the 2004-05 edition of the UEFA Champions League is regarded as one of the greatest fixtures in the competition’s history. Liverpool were up against an AC Milan side that boasted players like Kaka, Andrea Pirlo, Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta and more. When the Serie A outfit shot into a 3-0 lead at half time, it felt like the fixture was done and dusted.

However, Liverpool came out all guns blazing and made one of the most iconic comebacks in the competition’s history. The Reds scored three second-half goals, took the game to penalties and won to lift their fifth UCL title.

2007: AC Milan 2 - 1 Liverpool

Liverpool and AC Milan soon met again in the final of the UEFA Champions League, renewing their rivalry at the biggest stage in European club football. The sides met in the final of the 2006-07 season of the UCL, where the Rossoneri took revenge for the defeat in the final of the 2005 edition.

Thanks to a brace from legendary Italian striker Filippo Inzaghi, AC Milan won the final by a 2-1 scoreline. A late goal from Dirk Kuyt gave LFC a glimmer of hope, but it was not enough to make another comeback.