Red Devils line up unique double
Manchester United FC are looking to become the fourth side to win Europe's top club competition twice without losing a game as they head for the 2008 final. Unbeaten winners
In the history of the European Champion Clubs' Cup, three teams have won the trophy twice without losing a match: AFC Ajax, AC Milan and United's potential final opponents at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on 21 May, Premier League arch-rivals Liverpool FC.
Double successes
Liverpool lifted the European Cup twice without a single defeat, winning six games and drawing three in winning the trophy in 1980/81, and then triumphing seven times whilst being held twice as they won the 1983/84 title. Ajax had a similar record as they won the 1971/72 edition, and also ended the 1994/95 UEFA Champions League campaign as unbeaten champions, winning seven games and drawing four. Milan won five and tied four as they won the 1988/89 European Cup, and won the UEFA Champions League in 1993/94 with seven wins and five draws.
Unique chance
United's only UEFA Champions League success to date came in 1998/99, with victory against FC Bayern München at the Camp Nou marking the end of an unbeaten season in the competition. A win and a draw in qualifying got them to the group stage, while five further victories and six more draws saw the trophy return to Old Trafford for the first time since 1968. Having already won nine games and drawn three in reaching this season's final, they can become the first side to win the UEFA Champions League twice without a single defeat. Sir Alex Ferguson could also become the first coach to win two European Cups without losing a game in either campaign.
Forest frisson
While the competition ran for the first time in 1955/56, it took until 1963/64 for a team to win it without losing a match on the way, with FC Internazionale Milano taking the title with seven wins and two draws. After Ajax repeated that feat in 1971/72, Nottingham Forest FC took the 1978/79 crown without losing a game, winning six and drawing three.
Barcelona feat
The UEFA Champions League era began in 1992/93, with Olympique de Marseille winning the inaugural edition of the revamped competition following seven wins and four draws. Milan and Ajax would enjoy similar records in the next two editions of the tournament, before United became the fourth unbeaten winners in 1998/99. The only side to have managed that since were FC Barcelona, who won the title in 2005/06 with nine wins and four draws.
| Season | Team | Wins | Draws |
| 1963/64 | FC Internazionale Milano | 7 | 2 |
| 1971/72 | AFC Ajax | 7 | 2 |
| 1978/79 | Nottingham Forest FC | 6 | 3 |
| 1980/81 | Liverpool FC | 6 | 3 |
| 1983/84 | Liverpool FC | 7 | 2 |
| 1988/89 | AC Milan | 5 | 4 |
| 1992/93 | Olympique de Marseille | 7 | 4 |
| 1993/94 | AC Milan | 7 | 5 |
| 1994/95 | AFC Ajax | 7 | 4 |
| 1998/99 | Manchester United FC | 5 | 6 |
| 2005/06 | FC Barcelona | 9 | 4 |