Match Rewind: Four European classics to choose from

Our new feature Match Rewind invites Reds to vote on which crackers from our archives you'd like to see streamed in full by ManUtd.com and via our Official App.

 

Speak to a player involved in the Treble season, and the overwhelming majority will tell you that this was the greatest performance of a campaign that had more highs than the Himalayas. Juventus were ahead on away goals after the first leg of the semi-final at Old Trafford, and, when the Bianconeri went 2-0 up inside 11 minutes back in Turin, the Reds required something bordering on the miraculous. After all, we'd never won on Italian soil and Juventus were the pre-eminent European team of their generation, having reached five continental finals in the previous six seasons. No matter. Up stepped Roy Keane, with "a captain's goal" and one of the most inspirational individual displays in club history. Dwight Yorke made it 2-2 and put Ferguson's men ahead on the away-goal count before half-time, and Andy Cole sealed the tie late on. The Reds were into the European Cup final for the first time in 31 years, and they'd done it by beating the best, in almost impossible circumstances.

 

What a night this was at Old Trafford. It was a tale of redemption for one man in particular: Paul Scholes. Having missed the 1999 Champions League final due to suspension, the 'Ginger Prince' was desperate to reach another final before hanging up his boots and managed it almost nine years later, by scoring the only goal across 180 minutes against Frank Rijkaard's Barcelona. The visitors boasted Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and Henry, but what chance did they have against an inspired United defence – with Wes Brown producing his finest hour – Scholes's spectacular long-ranger and one of the great Old Trafford atmospheres?

 

Not for the faint-hearted, this one was about as tense (and ultimately euphoric) as it gets.

 

With 10 first-teamers out and PSG leading 2-0 after a comfortable first leg at Old Trafford, few gave United hope as we travelled to the Parc des Princes for the conclusion of this last-16 encounter. What followed was a comeback as impressive as almost any in United's history, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer threw caution to the wind by chucking on as many attacking players as he had available during the final moments, while United chased a decisive third away goal. The conclusion was among the most dramatic denouements in Champions League history, involving a Diogo Dalot shot, VAR and one of the most nerveless penalties – from a young Mancunian Academy graduate, no less – that you will ever see. Spine-tingling.

 

 

We're sure you need little reminder of such a fabulous foursome of games, and no doubt you'll already know which is your favourite. If so, it's time to vote in the Match Rewind live blog!

The poll closes at 16:00 GMT on Thursday, and the match that emerges as the winner will be streamed in full, for free, at 19:00 GMT on the same day.

Reading this in our app? If not, you might miss some exclusive features not found on ManUtd.com. Download the Official App here.