2008 UEFA Champions League Final was a football match that took place on Wednesday , 21 May 2008 , at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow , Russia , to determine the winner of the 2007 – 08 UEFA Champions League . It was contested by Manchester United and Chelsea , making it an all-English club final for the first time in the history of the competition . This was only the third time that two clubs from the same country had contested the final ; the others being the 2000 and 2003 finals . It was the first European Cup final played in Russia , and hence the easternmost final in the tournament 's history . It also marked the 100th anniversary of Manchester United 's first league triumph , the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster , and the 40th anniversary of United 's first European Cup triumph in 1968 . It was Manchester United 's third European Cup final after 1968 and 1999 , while it was Chelsea 's first
Munich air disaster
Munich air disaster
2008 UEFA Champions League Final