Wednesday, May 18, 1994 was the day that Johan Cruyff's Barcelona - dubbed 'The Dream Team' - were supposed to become immortal.
This was a side that had won four consecutive La Liga titles and a first ever European Cup in the club's history playing the sort of scintillating football that had earned them many admirers.
In goal was the great Andoni Zubizarreta, while the likes of Ronald Koeman, Pep Guardiola, Hristo Stoichkov and Romario all fitted into the Cruyff template perfectly.
So, when they faced AC Milan in the final of the Champions League in Athens 21 years ago today, virtually everyone expected a Barca victory, including Cruyff, who it has been claimed told his players in the dressing room before they headed out: "You're better than them, you're going to win."
Not only did he have the utmost confidence in his players, he will also have been buoyed by the news that Milan would be without defenders Alessandro Costacurta and Franco Baresi. What's more, the famous Dutch trio of Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard had been broken up, with the latter two having departed. Surely there was to be only one winner?
But, in Fabio Capello, the Italians had a masterful tactician in the dugout. Famed for being a defence-minded coach, on this occasion Capello had instructed his players to play on the front foot.
The result was that Guardiola, who started many of Barca's attacks from his position in front of the back four, could not get any time on the ball. Milan had stopped the Catalans at the source, which allowed them to go on and cause one of the biggest shocks in Champions League final history.
There was 22 minutes on the clock when the Italians broke the deadlock. Dejan Savicevic raced clear of the Barca defence and although he had attempted to chip Zubizarreta, his wayward shot found Daniele Massaro, who fired in from close range.
Moments before the break it was 2-0 to Capello's charges as Roberto Donadoni made his way to the byline and cut the ball back to Massaro to power in his second goal of the contest in the Greek capital.
Any hopes of a dramatic Barca comeback were over just two minutes after the restart. Savicevic robbed Miguel Angel Nadal of possession by the right touchline and the Serbian frontman proceeded to beat Zubizarreta with a lobbed effort from what had initially appeared to be an impossible angle.
Massaro then struck the post as he set about becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in Europe's showpiece final since 1969, but although he was unable to achieve that feat, Milan did add a fourth goal only moments later in the 58th minute.
Marcel Desailly, playing in the heart of the Milan midfield, won back possession, received a return pass then curled a shot inside the helpless Zubizarreta's far post.
Reflecting on that night many years later, Capello said: "I think sometimes when you are focused and you prepare really well and you really want to beat the other team you can find the energy to do it. We had a winning mentality.
"We played a fantastic game. On the pitch the players did everything perfectly. Barcelona had one shot at goal. All of the players played 100%. This is the reason why we beat Barcelona 4-0."
Meanwhile, beaten keeper Zubizarreta said: "When the third went in, we knew it was over. That was the worst night of my career."
As for Cruyff, the damage done that evening proved to be terminal to his tenure. Barca never won a trophy again under his management and just two years later, he had departed the club.
BARCELONA: Zubizarreta; Ferrer, Nadal, Koeman, Sergi (Estebaranz); Guardiola, Bakero, Amor, Begiristain (Sacristan); Romario, Stoichkov
MILAN: Rossi; Tassotti, Galli, Maldini (Nava), Panucci; Boban, Albertini, Desailly, Donadoni; Savicevic, Massaro
