10. Blackburn 4-1 Rosenborg: 1995/96 Group Stage
Starting off this list, we encounter Blackburn Rovers in their debut- and only- foray into the competition. It wasn't the most ideal baptism in the Champions League, as Ray Harford's men failed to pick up a single point from their opening three games in a group that contained Spartak Moscow, Legia Warsaw and Roseborg. On Matchday 4, they finally managed to pick up a point courtesy of a 0-0 home draw against the Polish outfit, before a chastening 3-0 defeat to the would-be runaway winners of the group Spartak Moscow, in a game more remembered for
Graeme Le Saux and David Batty's confrontation than the game itself. Already eliminated, the Rovers faithful needed a performance to justify their existence in the competition. That performance duly came on Matchday 6 on a December night at Ewood and the architect of that performance was striker Mike Newell. Newell, who made 4 starts and 1 sub appearance in the lead up to the Rosenborg clash,and had already found the net on 1 occasion in the reverse fixture in Norway, was about to have the game of his life to ensure that Rovers weren't going to exit Group B pointless and fans would remember this game for years to come. Alan Shearer, the spearhead of the title win the previous season, kicked off the goal proceedings with a customary cool conversion from the penalty spot in the 16th minute. Then came Newell's trio, all in the space of 9 first half minutes (at that time, the quickest CL hat trick). Sandwiched in between the ex-Luton and Grimsby boss's first and second strikes, Steffen Iversen, of future Tottenham fame, slotted in to make the score 2-1 in the 31 st minute and give them hope. Further hope was given to the Norwegians after Paul Warhust's dismissal in the second half but Rovers weren't to be denied and exited the competition on a happy note.