Remembering Internazionale's UEFA Cup Victories

Ronaldo holds the trophy
Ronaldo holds the trophy / JACK GUEZ/Getty Images
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Internazionale are one of the most successful clubs in UEFA Cup history, winning the tournament three times.

The Italian side go into Friday's Europa League final safe in the knowledge that only one team has won the tournament on more occasions than them. However, it's probably best not to tell them who that one team is, because it happens to be their opponents Sevilla.

Ahead of the final, here is a look at Inter's three UEFA Cup winning campaigns.

1. 1990/91

Lothar Matthaus was Inter's top scorer in the UEFA Cup with six goals
Lothar Matthaus was Inter's top scorer in the UEFA Cup with six goals / Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images

Inter's 1990/91 UEFA Cup campaign didn't get off to the greatest of starts, losing 2-1 to Rapid Vienna in the away leg of their round of 64 tie. However, a second-half brace from Italian midfielder Nicola Berti and an extra-time Jurgen Klinsmann strike saw off the Austrian side.

Things didn't get any smoother in the round of 32. Goals from Kent Nielsen and David Platt gave Aston Villa a 2-0 lead heading to San Siro, but an incredible comeback was complete with goals from Klinsmann, Berti, and Alessandro Bianchi.

The last 16 was slightly more comfortable for Giovanni Trapattoni's side, as they knocked out Partizan Belgrade 4-1 on aggregate, with German midfielder Lothar Matthaus netting in both legs.

The next round was an all-Italian affair as they faced Atalanta. The first leg finished 0-0, and the Nerazzurri finished the job at home. Aldo Serena put Inter 1-0 up on the hour mark, before Matthaus netted a 30-yard screamer three minutes later.

The semi-final was almost identical to the previous round. Inter drew 0-0 against Sporting CP in Lisbon, before goals from Matthaus and Klinsmann sealed a 2-0 home win and their place in the final.

Their opponents for the final were fellow Italians Roma. In order to come away with the trophy, the Milan club would have to keep Roma forward Rudi Voller quiet - the German was the competition's top scorer with ten goals.

The first leg all went to plan for Trapattoni's men. A penalty from Matthaus put them one up, and some dazzling work from Klinsmann down the left set up Berti for a tap in to make it 2-0.

A late strike from Ruggiero Rizzitelli made things nervy in the second leg, but the Nerazzurri held out to win 2-1 on aggregate and lift the trophy.

2. 1993/94

Dennis Bergkamp was the joint-top scorer of the competition with eight
Dennis Bergkamp was the joint-top scorer of the competition with eight / Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images

After finishing 13th in an underwhelming Serie A campaign, Internazionale redeemed themselves in fine fashion.

Summer signing Dennis Bergkamp - just 24 years old at the time - kicked off Inter's UEFA Cup campaign with a hat-trick against Rapid Bucharest, including a fantastic scissor kick as the Italians won 5-1 on aggregate.

The Dutchman continued this form in the round of 32, scoring in both legs as Inter defeated Apollon Limassol 4-3.

And the former Ajax man went from strength to strength when he scored both goals in Inter's 2-0 aggregate victory over Norwich City in the last 16.

Another Dutchman stepped up to the plate in the quarter-final clash against Borussia Dortmund, as Wim Jonk netted twice in a 3-1 win at the Westfalenstadion. Goals from Michael Zorc and Lars Ricken threatened Inter's place in the semi-finals, but a late strike from Antonio Manicone put the tie beyond all doubt.

The Nerazzurri seemed to be on their way to the final when goals from Davide Fontolan and Ruben Sosa put them 2-1 up away at fellow Italians Cagliari, but two goals in the last ten minutes gave the Isolani a 3-2 lead heading into the second leg.

The clash at San Siro gave Inter the chance for redemption; a chance that they took emphatically with a resounding 3-0 win.

Gianpiero Marini's men faced Austria Salzburg in a two-legged final, both of which they won 1-0.

The only goal of the first leg was scored by 1991 final scorer Nicola Berti, as he squeezed in a volley with his left foot.

And the final was put to bed in the second leg when Wim Jonk brilliantly chipped the ball in from a tight angle.

Bergkamp ended the UEFA Cup season with eight goals - the joint most with German forward Edgar Schmitt.

3. 1997/98

Ronaldo scored 34 goals in his debut season for Inter
Ronaldo scored 34 goals in his debut season for Inter / PATRICK KOVARIK/Getty Images

Inter's third and most recent UEFA Cup triumph came in 1998, and it's largely down to a 21-year-old Ronaldo.

The Brazilian opened the scoring in their first round tie against Neuchatel Xamax, as they defeated the Swiss side 2-0 in both legs. Italian winger Francesco Moreiro scored a stunning bicycle kick in the second leg.

The round of 32 proved to be a tougher test for the Italians, as they lost the home leg of their tie with Lyon 2-1. However, a brace from Moreiro and a strike from Benoit Cauet turned the tie around as they won 4-3 on aggregate.

Another French team provided a tough test for the Milan side, as Strasbourg came away from the first leg with a 2-0 lead. However, goals from Ronaldo, Javier Zanetti, and Diego Simeone completed a brilliant comeback at San Siro.

O Fenomeno was on the scoresheet once again with a fantastic solo goal at San Siro against Schalke in a 1-0 win. The Germans were unable to overturn this scoreline in the second leg, as the two sides played out a 1-1 draw.

In the semi-finals, a bullet header from Chilean forward Ivan Zamorano, and a late winner from Brazilian midfielder Ze Elias gave Internazionale the advantage heading into the second leg against Spartak Moscow. And it was in Moscow where Ronaldo shone once more, scoring twice in a 2-1 victory.

It was another all-Italian final, with Luigi Simoni's men facing a Lazio side that had conceded just three goals all tournament.

This was no problem for Inter, however. Just five minutes in, Zamorano latched onto Simeone's long ball and placed it into the far corner.

Inter legend Javier Zanetti made it 2-0 in the second half with a stunning half-volley from 20 yards on the hour mark.

And then, with 20 minutes remaining, Ronaldo sealed the trophy with the most Ronaldo-esque goal imaginable. The Brazilian raced through on goal, sat the goalkeeper down with a little shimmy, and rolled the ball into an empty net.