Following a string of unexpected results in the UEFA Champions League, including Lyon's shock win over Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus, there is a chance we could see an unfamiliar champion this season. Here are nine previous surprise winners of the competition.
Click through the gallery above for images of nine surprise Champions League/European Cup winners
Scottish giants Celtic are one of the world's most recognisable clubs but their triumph 1966/67 European Cup was one that few would have expected. The Hoops enjoyed a favourable draw through the knockout stages of the competition before beating Inter Milan, who had previously knocked out reigning champions Real Madrid, in the final to become the first-ever British side to lift the trophy.
Three seasons later, Feyenoord confounded critics to become the first-ever Dutch side to win Europe's premier club competition, beating none other than Celtic in the final after coming down from 1-0 down to win 2-1 after extra-time. That result laid the foundation for a period of Dutch dominance, with Ajax Amsterdam winning the Cup in each of the next three campaigns.
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Reigning European champions Liverpool are arguably the strongest team in world football at present, but the Reds were strong underdogs heading into the 2004/05 final against Carlo Ancelotti's AC Milan side. Then managed by Rafa Benitez, the Merseyside club came down from three goals down at half-time to claim their fifth title after a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
That followed FC Porto's surprise triumph the season before, where Jose Mourinho announced himself to the world by guiding the Portuguese outfit to the title against Monaco after disposing of the likes of Manchester United, Olympique Lyonnais and Deportivo La Coruna in the knockout stages.
Other surprise champions include Romania's Steaua Bucuresti in 1986 and Serbia's Red Star Belgrade five years later – you can see the full list by scrolling through the image gallery above.
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NOTE: The above includes champions of both the UEFA Champions League and former European Cup competitions.
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