My nominations:
2018-2019: Probably the best for me; Liverpool’'s tight escape from the group stage and then the Anfield comeback. Tottenham’s tie with City and then coming back against Ajax. Ajax devouring Real fearlessly. Only thing weak was that boring final.
2009-2010: This one had absolute bangers; Man Utd vs Milan and Man Utd vs Bayern were the absolute standouts. Inter’s journey was pretty badass as well, especially against Barcelona. Seeing Jose eating Pep like that was pretty special.
2011-2012: Chelsea’s journey was even more badass considering they were in such a messy season. Also, Bayern somehow knocking out one of the greatest Real sides to ever exist. And Chelsea dispatching Messi in his best year. Plus, the final was amazing.
2021-2022: I would include this one because it was hilarious; Ancelotti dropping his eyebrow and his side would automatically pull the most unlikely comeback to ever exist. Also, Villareal’s deep run was pretty amazing, absolute giant slayers.
2003-2004: This one, I admit that I was to young to remember but damn!! Porto and Deportivo knocking out those absolute monster squads that Man Utd and Milan had. Also, Monaco was fire, and coupled with the fact that Greece won the Euros that year, I think it’s safe to say that 2004 was the year of the underdogs.
2011-2012
As a Prem fan 18/19 was one of the most entertaining seasons ever - domestic and UCL included. Went down to the wire in the league (98 and 97 points with the Kompany screamer to keep City in the title race). And then the UCL was just amazing. City vs Spurs, Liverpool vs Barca, Liverpool ev Ajax etc. So so entertaining. Also as a Chelsea fan that season just reminds me of Hazard in his prime. Just a very hard season to forget.
It is a dead tournament and have been for 15 years.
Mid 90s Ajax was magnificent and it was a great season imo. Sad they didn’t pull it off again in 2019.
2019/20 was insane, Bayern steam rolling the whole of Europe, 2021/22 was my favourite due to the sheer unbelievability of Real’s remondatas. ¡Hala Madrid!
LFC fan here, it was literally a hell ride for us, dreamy .
I lean more towards the late 2000s seasons but yeah thinking about it 2018/2019 is probably the overall best champions league season I’ve ever seen for the ‘neutral’ fan.
The group stage was chaotic. RO16, Quarters & Semis all delivered incredible memorable moments, games and performances.
As you said, only thing that sucked was the final ironically. Liverpool was the rightful winner of the tournament but it would’ve just been that cherry on top if the last game was also awesome.
Had they faced say Ajax (who should’ve made it tbh). If the brackets changed Barca or Man City would’ve been great finalists against Liverpool as well.
2018/19 just because of semis and 2021/22 because we all know why 💪
I think 2017-18 season was also very good. We got to see some unbelievable games like Barca PSG where Barca did the impossible to comeback against Paris. And we also got to see close games between European Powerhouses in Madrid vs Bayern.
And in terms of defensive play, we got to see Juventus do it justice by stopping MSN in a very professional manner. The final wasn’t that good but it was still a good season.
2018/19. You mention only the semi-finals but the whole of the knockout stage was comeback after comeback after comeback.
In the RO16 Ajax pulled a comeback on Real Madrid, Ronaldo scored a hat trick against Atleti, Man U won to PSG at the very last minute.
In the QF Ajax won to Juve and Spurs dumped MAN CITY out of the competition
Both comebacks in the semifinals are legendary and still talked about
And the final yeah whatever
I’ll always have to go 99, United in a group that contained Barca & Bayern then had to get through Inter and Juve then Bayern again without Scholes and Keane.
This was when only top 2 teams were allowed as well
That 18/19 final was such a let down after both teams amazing runs.
As a spurs fans it will always be such a bitter end to loss a game basically on a handball technicality.
I just wish we hadn’t started basically started 1-0 down
2012/2013
2004 for me. The best format, teams from outside the richest leagues still had a chance. Four surprise teams in the semi-final, lots of classic matches (Chelsea-Arsenal, Depor-Milan, Monaco-Madrid - plus those mad Inter-Arsenal games in the group and the game you mentioned between Monaco & Depor).
Then you have Greece winning a brilliant Euros that summer. Plus Bremen, Valencia winning league titles. What a time
Istanbul is wonderful.