Under Pep Guardiola, Barcelona produced one of the most iconic performances in Champions League history. After a composed 3-1 away win, the return leg at Camp Nou turned into something extraordinary. Lionel Messi scored five goals, which is still a record in a single Champions League match, as Barcelona demolished Leverkusen 7-1. The 10-2 aggregate scoreline tells you everything. It was total football at its peak - relentless pressing, perfect movement, and clinical finishing.
Speaking to Neville on The Overlap, Van der Sar was asked to name the best manager he played under and chose his former Ajax boss Louis van Gaal. Neville was left stunned by the selection and suggested Ferguson instead, but Van der Sar simply stuck to his pick. Van der Sar played under Van Gaal for eight seasons at Ajax and was part of the squad that lifted the Champions League title in 1994-95.
The UEFA Conference League is considered Europe's third-best continental tournament, and through four seasons it's delivered titles to four clubs from three countries. Three-quarters of the finalists have come from three of the top-four leagues in the world while 2023-24 champion Olympiacos of Greece and 2021-22 finalist Feyenoord of the Netherlands have also reached competed for the crown.