Four teams that lost two Champions League finals in as many years
Let's face it, losing once in a Champions League final can be crushing enough for any football team and its fans. But losing the same grand stage twice in as many years? That's a whole new level of misery.
Unfortunately for some teams, it seems that luck just wasn't on their side. No matter how much they prepared, no matter how much they trained, they just couldn't come out on top. One only needs to take a look at Liverpool.
Between 2018 and 2022, Jurgen Klopp's Reds reached three Champions League finals in just four years. Inexplicably, however, they lifted the trophy just once on those three trips to the showpiece fixture. Five years ago, they met Real Madrid in Kyiv. Winger Mohamed Salah was the continent's form player at the time, but he went down with an early injury at the hands of Sergio Ramos and his team couldn't get the job done without him, losing 3-1 after two late stunners from substitute Gareth Bale.
The Merseysiders would right that wrong the following year when they defeated Tottenham in Madrid to get their hands on the famous “Big-Eared” trophy for the sixth time in their history. Their resident Egyptian King would get himself on the scoresheet, but three years later, they wouldn't be so lucky.
A masterclass from shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois as well as a second-half Vinicius Jr. meant that they had to succumb to the record champions Real once more. The loss had a huge impact on the betting world, shaking up the odds significantly. And Los Blancos may very well be on course for glory once again this season, with those looking to place a soccer bet able to get odds of +650 on the club from the Spanish capital claiming the trophy for a record-extending 15th time.
While Liverpool may have dropped a couple of finals in recent years, at least they did manage to lift the trophy. Some other teams haven't been so lucky.
Juventus
First up is Juventus, the Old Lady of Italian football, who had a starkly similar experience in the 2015 and 2017 Champions League finals. In those finals, they faced Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively, and in both, they were outclassed and outscored. Their defense, led by the likes of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, failed to contain the attacking prowess of Barca's MSN - namely Messi-Suarez-Neymar - trident and the mercurial talent of Real's Cristiano Ronaldo.
It's fair to say that the Bianconeri could barely muster a fightback in either final, as they lost 3-1 and 4-1, respectively. To make matters worse, no team has lost more Champions League finals than the Bianconeri, with seven defeats to their name.
Bayern Munich
Next, we have Germany's Rekordmeister, Bayern Munich. They reached the Champions League final in both 2010 and 2012, only to fall short on both occasions. The first time around, they lost to Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan, with veteran Argentine striker Diego Milito netting a brace as the Nerazzurri claimed an easy victory. A couple of years later, they faced Chelsea and were heavily favored for success, especially considering the fact that the game was played in their home stadium.
In a game that saw the Bavarians dominate possession and chances, they failed to capitalize on their early lead and paid the price when Didier Drogba equalized for the Blues in the game's dying embers. Arjen Robben would then miss a penalty in extra time against his former club, allowing goalscorer Drogba and keeper Petr Cech the chance to be heroes in a penalty shootout. But at least the third time would be the charm, as Bayern defeated Borussia Dortmund at Wembley in 2013 to snap their losing streak at two.
Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid was a team that gained a reputation for being a resilient and tough nut to crack throughout the 2010s. But when it comes to Champions League finals, they've only faced heartbreak. They lost their maiden final back in 1974 and four decades later - fresh off of winning La Liga against all odds - they faced cross-city rivals Real in Lisbon. They came agonizingly close to lifting the trophy, but Sergio Ramos' last-gasp header canceled out Diego Godin's opener, and Los Rojiblancos would run out of steam in extra time, eventually succumbing to a 4-1 defeat.
Two years later, they faced their archrivals again, this time in the San Siro. This time, they had to come from behind as Ramos once again netted. They managed to find an equalizer through Yannick Carrasco but the footballing gods weren't on their side. Juanfran missed the all-important spot-kick in a penalty shootout, allowing Ronaldo to swipe home and secure the first of three straight titles for Los Blancos.
Manchester United
Manchester United reached the final in both 2009 and 2011, and on both occasions, they faced Pep Guardiola's Barcelona. The first time around, they were aiming to become the first team of the Champions League era to successfully defend the trophy, but they were outclassed by a rampant Barca side. Lionel Messi scored in the latter stages of the game to secure a 2-0 win following Samuel Eto'o's first-half opener, and two years later, he would net again in a one-sided 3-1 victory.