Bayern Munich lock horns with FC Barcelona on Friday night in Lisbon at the Estadio da Luz in the quaterfinals of the UEFA Champions League in what promises to be match of the season.
Whenever the German side plays in Europe one player that quickly comes to the mind of Ghanaians is Samuel Osei Kuffour – the greatest African player to ever represent the team of Gerd Muller and Franz Beckenbauer.
It was May 23rd, 2001 when Bayern Munich and Valencia met in the final match of the 2000/2001 UEFA Champions League at the historic San Siro stadium in the Italian city of Milan and Kuffour whose side lost the 1999 final to Manchester United this time rejoiced as the Bayern won the trophy 5-4 on penalty shootouts following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
Gaizka Mendieta scored first for the Spanish side from the spot as early as the 3rd minute but Bayern skipper Effenberg equalized in same manner in the 50th minute.
Ghana international Samuel Osei Kuffour at the peak of his career was in the starting line up alongside Patrik Andersson and Thomas Linke in central defence.
The Bayern Munich line up for 2001 Champions League final:
GK 1 Oliver Kahn
CB 4 Samuel Kuffour
CB 5 Patrik Andersson
CB 25 Thomas Linke
RWB 2 Willy Sagnol
LWB 3 Bixente Lizarazu
CM 23 Owen Hargreaves
CM 11 Stefan Effenberg (c)
AM 7 Mehmet Scholl
AM 20 Hasan Salihamidžić
CF 9 Giovane Élber
Coach : Ottmar Hitzfeld
