2. Juventus (1985)
One of the worst days in European football occurred at the 1985 Champions League final at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels. The scenes were horrific and marked the slow decline of the hooligan culture in British football. Two supposed neutral zones were occupied by the two sets of supporters meaning they were only two feet apart - and before the match they threw stones and missiles at one-another. The Liverpool fans breached the fence and charged at the Juventus supporters. The stand gave way under the weight and 39 fans were killed with numerous others injured. The match obviously had a very strange atmosphere; carrying on despite the events that had occurred hours before. Liverpool had been the dominant team in Europe for the last eight years - winning four European Cups - while Juventus had never won the trophy. The Old Lady squad had some marvellous players. They had Marco Tardelli and Antonio Cabrini, with Gaetano Scirea as captain and Giovanni Trapattoni as manager. The true star of the team was Michel Platini. You probably recognise him as the President of UEFA but as a player he was one of the best ever; winning three consecutive Ballon Dors in the mid-eighties. Platini won the match with a penalty in the 51st minute but obviously there were not many celebrations. The Juventus team was wonderful and boasted talent all over the pitch. They showed enough to end the Liverpool dominance and secure their first European Cup. It marked a new era. Teams from England had won seven of the previous eight Champions Leagues and on top of the five-year European competition ban given to English clubs it marked the end of British dominance. Italy was officially the new home of European football.