<P> Real Madrid faced another German team (Bayer Leverkusen) in the 2002 final at Glasgow's Hampden Park . Real Madrid were pursuing a policy at the time of signing one world - class player a year . That season they had added multiple FIFA World Player of the Year winner, Zinedine Zidane, for a fee of € 71 million . Zidane volleyed home the winner in their 2--1 victory that gave the club its ninth European Cup and the third European Cup in five seasons, Bayer became the first finalist never to have won their domestic league; they had earlier lost the Bundesliga title in the last match of the season, and subsequently also lost in the DFB - Pokal final, to achieve a runners - up treble . </P> <P> The next season saw Italian clubs return to the top of the European table . Juventus also made history in the European group stage by defeating Olympiacos 7--0 . Although they had dominated the competition through the 1990s, there were no Serie A clubs in the quarter - finals in 2002 . The following season, however, saw three Italian semi-finalists--and a final between Milan and Juventus . Milan won their sixth European Cup when they beat their old rivals 3--2 on penalties following a 0--0 draw . Milan captain Paolo Maldini lifted the trophy in Manchester exactly 40 years after his father Cesare had done so for Milan in London . Clarence Seedorf won the Champions League for the third time, and with three different clubs . He had earlier won the cup with Ajax in 1995 and Real Madrid in 1998 . </P> <P> There was a major upset in 2004 when Porto defeated Monaco 3--0 to win the Champions League . Goals were scored by Carlos Alberto, Deco and Dmitri Alenichev . Neither team had been tipped for any success in the competition, but between them they managed to defeat Manchester United, Real Madrid and Chelsea, among other clubs . Porto and their manager José Mourinho achieved the rare feat of following up a UEFA Cup victory by winning the Champions League the next season . Russian international Alenichev became only the third player after Ronald Koeman and Ronaldo to score a goal in two consecutive different European finals and Vítor Baía became the ninth player to have won the three European club titles . </P> <P> There was a similar surprise in 2005 . This time, it involved two of Europe's most successful clubs, with six - time European champions Milan facing four - time winners Liverpool in what some consider to be one of the most dramatic finals in the competition's history . Milan broke through after just 52 seconds with Maldini striking the fastest goal in European Cup Final history . The Italians took control of the game, Andriy Shevchenko fed Hernán Crespo five minutes before half - time to make it 2--0, only for Crespo to add another two minutes later after a defence - splitting pass from Kaká . With just under ten minutes of the second half played, captain Steven Gerrard scored with a header to begin the comeback . Vladimír Šmicer's long - range drive made it 3--2 just two minutes later and, on the hour mark, Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso completed the comeback by converting the rebound from his saved penalty kick to make it 3--3 . Liverpool's three goals came in the space of only six minutes . Milan almost won it at the end of extra time when Shevchenko was twice denied in quick succession by Jerzy Dudek . That proved crucial as they moved on to a penalty shoot - out where Liverpool triumphed 3--2 and captured their fifth European Cup victory and as five - time winners earned the honour of keeping the trophy . </P>

First team to win back to back champions league