Silence at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul as 30 May came and went. No fans, no football, no drama, no celebrations. Of course, ask any fan who’s watched their team in the final and they’ll tell you it’s about coming home with the trophy with the big ears. That’s all that matters: the glory. But even for the underdog, there’s always hope. As the anticipation builds in the hours before kick-off, so too does the sense that there’s always a chance – this could be your day. Here at Champions Journal, we’ve been left longing for a taste of that atmosphere. As such, with this season’s story still to unfold in Lisbon, we look back instead to past finals. It’s a chance to savour something of the colour and passion brought by the fans fortunate enough to have lived it themselves.
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It’s a splendid hat but you wouldn’t want to be sat behind it. These fans went home happy, Ajax beating Panathinaikos 2-0 at Wembley in 1971
It’s a splendid hat but you wouldn’t want to be sat behind it. These fans went home happy, Ajax beating Panathinaikos 2-0 at Wembley in 1971
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On yer bike: St-Étienne fans descended on Glasgow en masse for the 1976 final, but it was a long journey home after a 1-0 loss to Bayern
On yer bike: St-Étienne fans descended on Glasgow en masse for the 1976 final, but it was a long journey home after a 1-0 loss to Bayern
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Valencia supporters get behind their team at the 2000 final in Paris
Valencia supporters get behind their team at the 2000 final in Paris
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On a high: a bird’s-eye view for United’s incredible comeback against Bayern in 1999
On a high: a bird’s-eye view for United’s incredible comeback against Bayern in 1999
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The sun shines down on Dortmund fans at Wembley in 2013, though their team lost 2-1 to Bayern
The sun shines down on Dortmund fans at Wembley in 2013, though their team lost 2-1 to Bayern
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An Atlético fan leads the chants at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan in 2016
An Atlético fan leads the chants at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan in 2016
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Barcelona supporters take to the Champs-Élysées to celebrate the 2006 win against Arsenal
Barcelona supporters take to the Champs-Élysées to celebrate the 2006 win against Arsenal
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Fans tight to the pitch watch on as Ângelo clears off the line in Benfica’s 3-2 win against Barcelona in the 1961 final in Berne
Fans tight to the pitch watch on as Ângelo clears off the line in Benfica’s 3-2 win against Barcelona in the 1961 final in Berne
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A young Bayern fan feels the pain of defeat against Chelsea at the 2012 final in Munich
A young Bayern fan feels the pain of defeat against Chelsea at the 2012 final in Munich
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Unable to get tickets, these four lads missed out on Manchester United lifting the trophy for the first time against Benfica at Wembley in 1968
Unable to get tickets, these four lads missed out on Manchester United lifting the trophy for the first time against Benfica at Wembley in 1968
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Real Madrid supporters start the party ahead of the 2014 final against Atlético in Lisbon
Real Madrid supporters start the party ahead of the 2014 final against Atlético in Lisbon
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Istanbul 2005 – perhaps the greatest final comeback in the history of the competition
Istanbul 2005 – perhaps the greatest final comeback in the history of the competition
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Two fans catch up on some sleep at Athens airport the day after Milan’s breathtaking 4-0 demolition of Barcelona in the 1994 final
Two fans catch up on some sleep at Athens airport the day after Milan’s breathtaking 4-0 demolition of Barcelona in the 1994 final
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