5 Greatest Battles of Britain

2. Leeds United 1 Rangers 2, November 1992

Leeds United feature prominently in these final two matches, so their supporters may want to look away now.

The European Cup was rebranded as the Champions League for the 1992-93 season.

Rangers, dominant in Scotland at this point, played their part in the creation of what we now know as UEFA’s premier competition.

With rivals Celtic in dire financial straits, Rangers sought to broaden their horizons and establish themselves as a European force.

Having been eliminated in the first round by Bayern Munich a couple of years earlier, Rangers petitioned and lobbied to insure themselves against such quirks of the draw.

In the first year of the Champions League format, all that stood between them and the promised land was Leeds United.

The champions of England against the champions of Scotland, back when that mattered.

Rangers won the home leg 2-1 despite going behind to a goal from Scotland international Gary McAllister in the first minute.

The second leg at Elland Road was an epic as United bombarded Andy Goram’s goal after going behind 3-1 on aggregate following England international Mark Hately’s third minute goal.

Hately crossed for Ally McCoist for a back post diving header to put Rangers 4-1 ahead on aggregate.

Still Leeds poured forward in waves only to be denied by Goram time and time again before Eric Cantona scored a consolation late on.

Rangers would go on to make a de facto semi-final and have not reached heights since. The rise and fall of Leeds at the turn of the century is perhaps football’s great cautionary tale.