20. Milan: 1968/69
A Milan team more exciting than the ’63, ’94 or ’03 winners took the prize in 1969. Despite finishing third in Serie A, this version of the Rossoneri bested a roll call of Europe’s best.
The quarter-finals produced a 1-0 win over Stein’s exceptional Celtic. Lethal striker Pierino Prati scored the decisive goal in Glasgow as a well-drilled defense resisted attack after attack. Prati’s goals weren’t needed against holders United in the last four. Instead, Angelo Sormani and Kurt Hamrin picked up the slack to emphasise the enviable depth up top this team possessed.
Milan’s attacking muscle was flexed once more in the final against Cruyff’s burgeoning Ajax superstars. Just like in ’63, Rivera picked the passes, this time helping Sormani score again, while Prati netted a hat-trick. Not many Milan teams can claim to have been this good against so strong a field. Nor can many of the club’s best squads match the firepower Prati and Co. brought to bear.