Ranking top 10 Best Club matches of 2022-23 season

From crazy European nights to the pulsating final day drama, the list comprises the best games from the past season.

The 2023–24 football season has somewhat reached its drawing end, as now only one game remains to be played in the season: the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League Final.

This season was nothing short of a roller coaster ride that was filled with shocking results and never-ending drama. From Napoli winning its first Scuddeto in 33 years to Manchester City teeing up the Premier League as well as the Champions League, the 2022–23 season was something special and will truly be remembered by fans for years to come.

Amidst all the sensational matches that were played across the length of the season, some games stood out from the rest and sent shockwaves around the world due to their breathtaking results.

So today we take a trip down memory lane and muse over 10 of the best club matches played in the 2022–23 season across different competitions.

10. Liverpool 2-5 Real Madrid 

Last year’s Champions League finalists Real Madrid and Liverpool met at Anfield on the 22nd of February for the first leg of their round of 16 matchups. The Kop roared loudly as they tried to back their team towards a positive first leg result, and it did seem to work at first. The Reds started off by scoring twice in the opening 15 minutes to get off to a dream start against a familiar foe.

But what happened next was a depiction of the football brilliance that Real Madrid held. Vinicius Junior struck the ball to perfection as Real landed one back in the 21st minute, which was followed by a howler from Allison, to level the game.

The second half commenced, and Real further shifted gears as Militao headed his team into the lead before King Karim scored an incredible brace to make it five.

Real Madrid absolutely trashed Liverpool in their own backyard and delivered one of the most thrilling and shocking nights of the 2022–23 season. Also, it was the first time that the Reds conceded five at Anfield.

9. Manchester City 3-0 Bayern Munich

Manchester City handed a big blow to German champions Bayern Munich when they visited the Etihad for the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Having had an incredible recent record in the Champions League, Bayern were confident of giving Pep’s men a tough night. But all of that confidence disappeared into thin air, right from the start.

Pep’s men dominated possession from the very start of the game and didn’t shrug it off for even a second. They were constantly on the front foot and ultimately got their lead via a rocket from Rodri in the 27th minute. City then rammed home their superiority as they completely obliterated Bayern with their possessional play and attacking dominance.

City scored two more goals in the 70th and 76th minutes to make it 3-0 and draw an end to one of the most incredible nights under the roof of the Etihad.

8. Barcelona 2-2 Manchester United

Barcelona and Manchester United’s Europa League clash was easily one of the most highly anticipated fixtures of the 2022–23 season. Being two of the most in-form teams in Europe at that time, Barcelona and United clashed in the round of 32 first leg at Camp Nou.

The game began with some truly amazing football, as chances were emerging for both teams thick and fast. The intensity of the game was immaculate, and the dreadlock was finally broken just minutes into the second half as Alonso headed the ball past De Gea. United bounced back almost immediately and scored twice inside seven minutes to silence Camp Nou.

Barcelona dreaded an equaliser and somehow got one courtesy of a curling cross by Rapinha that found its way into the back of the net.

The game ended with a full-time score of 2-2, as fans inside Camp Nou stood to their feet in applause for the incredible game that both teams had just played.

7. Napoli 4-1 Liverpool

Real Madrid’s bashing at Anfield wasn’t Liverpool’s only embarrassing defeat of the season; prior to that, Napoli humbled the English giants at Naples.

Napoli sent shockwaves across Europe and made a bold statement of their prowess when they struck four past Liverpool in an enticing Group Stage fixture.

Zielinski, Kvaratskhelia, and Oshimen all shone for the Blues as they marched on to a historic 4-1 win over Liverpool.

6. Barcelona 3-3 Inter Milan

An incredible tale of drama and turmoil was written as two old rivals, Barcelona and Inter Milan, faced off at Camp Nou in a game that would be crucial in deciding both sides' fates in the Champions League.

Barca got off to a dream start in the 40th minute as Dembele scored a banger. But two early second-half goals by Inter left Barca with a mountain to climb going into the final 10 minutes of the game. Lewandowski got one back in the 82nd minute to level the score and give Barcelona some hope for a winner.

The glimpse of hope was, however, tarnished in the 89th-minute courtesy of a worldie by Gosens that would give Inter the win and send Barca out of the Champions League. All hope seemed to have been lost for the Blaugrana, but they somehow managed to find an equaliser in the 92nd minute, as Lewandowski once again emerged as Barcelona’s saviour.

The game ended with an incredible scoreline of 3-3, as pundits and fans around the world exclaimed that the fixture was one of the best Champions League group-stage matches.

5. Royal Antwerp 2-2 Genk

The Belgian Pro League gave us one of the most incredible final-day dramas in the history of football. Royal Antwerp and Genk both had the chance to clinch the title on the final day. Genk had to get a win and hope for Union Saint to lose, whereas Antwerp had to draw or win.

With Club Brugge getting the better of Union Saint in the final matchday, all sights were now at the Cegeka Arena, where, with seconds left to go, Genk were leading by two goals to one.

Antwerp needed just one goal to win, and late into injury time, Toby Alderwierld came up with an outside-the-box banger to send his childhood club to their first-ever league title in 66 years.

4. FC Köln 1-2 Bayern Munich

Going into the final matchday of the season, Bayern Munich had very little hope of continuing their incredible title run in the Bundesliga. The Bavarians were behind rivals Borussia Dortmund and had to hope for the black and yellow to fail to win against Mainz at the Signal Iduna.

Mainz got an early 2-0 advantage against Dortumnd, but Bayern were unable to keep their lead against Koln, who equalised via a penalty. The clock was ticking, and Bayern needed a goal to reclaim the title, as Dortmund were still 2-1 behind Mainz.

It was the 89th minute, and Bayern were on the attack. Musiala got the ball from the left flank, which he controlled excellently and struck with utter perfection into the bottom left corner to send the Bayern fans flying.

On the other hand, it was heartbreak at the Signal Iduna, as Dortmund missed out on their first league title in over a decade.

3. Barcelona 2 - 1 Real Madrid

Football’s most elite rivalry, the Clasico, seldom fails to entertain us, and this season as well, the Clasico lived up to its expectations. The La Liga title race was catching heat as Barcelona looked to run away with the title, and it was Madrid's biggest chance to revive their season.

The Blancos took the lead inside the opening 10 minutes as Araujo scored an own goal. Deep into extra time of the first half, Roberto pulled one back for the Blaugrana, and the scores were level. Both teams tried their best in the second half to find the second goal, but it wasn’t to be, and the game looked to end in a 1-1 draw.

But with a minute left in injury time, Barca made an optimistic counter-attack move as Balde squared the ball off into the box, and Kessie struck it excellently into the back of the net, handing Barca a late winner against arch-rivals Real Madrid.

2. Liverpool 7-0 Manchester United

In what was one of the Premier League’s worst drubbings ever, Liverpool completely capitulated against Ten Hag’s men at Anfield. The context of the game turned out to be very different from what was anticipated. Manchester United were deemed the favourites to win the tie, as they had recently been in fine form.

Liverpool took a slender 1-0 lead in the first half but went on to shockingly score six in the second 45 to complete one of the Premier League’s most humiliating defeats ever.

1. Manchester City 4-0 Real Madrid

Having previously lost in the semis against the same opponents, Manchester City made no mistake this time around, as they pulled off one of the finest performances ever seen in the Champions League.

It’s not a usual sight to see Real Madrid being battered in the Champions League, but such was the mastery of this finely poised City side. 

Bernardo Silva shone brightly for the Blues as they scored the opening two goals, which were followed by two late goals by Akanji and Haaland, to complete a dream win for Manchester City against Real Madrid.

These were the best matches played in the 2022-23 season.