Every UEFA Champions League Final Ranked From Worst To Best
13. Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid (2014)
Atletico Madrid successfully broke up the Barcelona/Real Madrid duopoly in 2014 to claim a first La Liga title in 18 years.
The team, who were a reflection of their uncompromising manager Diego Simeone, pipped Barca to the league crown and looked set to do similar to Real in the Champions League.
But with their ruthless goal-getter Diego Costa forced to come off after just eight minutes through injury, Atleti were forced to go back to basics, defending doggedly and relying on set pieces to create chances.
The approach, while not the most entertaining to watch, appeared to be paying off when, on 36 minutes, a looping Diego Godin header caught the out-of-form Iker Casillas off his line to make it 1-0.
That was how it stayed until the third minute of stoppage time when Real finally found a way past the Atleti rearguard, following a period of relentless pressure, courtesy of a Sergio Ramos header.
Goals can often transform games. While neutrals must have hoped Real’s leveller would set up a grand finale in extra time, it instead ended up knocking the wind out of Atletico’s sails completely.
Simeone’s team had given it their all and had nothing left in the tank. It was one-way traffic from there with first Gareth Bale and then Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo scoring to seal a 4-1 win – the second biggest margin in Champions League history.
It could have all been so different had Costa stayed on the pitch.