Top 10 greatest comebacks in Champions League history. Europe’s elite competition is where legends are made. These are some of the greatest stories from the competition.
Champions League football is the epitome of Europe’s club football competition. This is where the best teams in the continent face each other to determine who the best side is. A grand performance here can earn you immortality in the mind of the fans.
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The Chelsea vs Ajax match last night was a reminder of the chaotic nature of the competition. The old adage about a match never being truly over until the final whistle is blown was on full display as both teams fought tooth and nail to win the match before ultimately sharing the spoils with a 4-4 draw.
However, despite Ajax’s brilliance at holding on despite being reduced to 9 men, this was Chelsea’s story as they came back from a 4-1 deficit to ultimately end the match with honours divided. Another goal and the Blues would have scripted a miracle comeback for the ages.
Alas that wasn’t to be. However, last night’s match bought back memories of many such brilliance in Europe’s elite competition. Let us go down memory lane and rank the top 10 greatest comebacks in Champions League history.
#10) Real Madrid vs Ajax (2019) Round of 16
Real Madrid had won the 2016, 2017 and 2018 Champions League and even though Cristiano Ronaldo had moved to Juventus, they looked good enough for a 4th consecutive title; or at the very least, beat Ajax in their round of 16 encounter.
Their first leg match went according to the script as Real Madrid left Amsterdam with a goal lead and 2 crucial away goals. However, in the end, they all proved to be inconsequential as Ajax swept Real Madrid away at the Bernabeu.
By half-time Ajax had already scored 2 goals to lead 3-2 on aggregate. The Dutch side scored another in the 62nd minute to take their aggregate score to 4. Marco Asensio gave Real a glitter of hope by scoring a goal in the 70th minute.
However, Ajax found the back of the net once again a couple of minutes later to close the door on Real Madrid. The Underdogs had done it; they won the match 5-3 on aggregate. The defending champions were handed a shocking exit as Ajax embarked on their fairytale run in the competition.
#9) Ajax vs Tottenham (2019) Semi-Final
Ajax were a young side that had punched above their weight to even reach the semi-final. They had already beaten giants, Real Madrid and Juventus to make it to the last 4. A spot in the final seemed all but assured when Ajax beat Tottenham away.
Ajax hosted Tottenham in the second leg and by the end of the first half they already have one of their legs in the finals of the Champions league. Goals from Matthijs de Ligt and Hakim Ziyech gave them a 3-goal lead in the aggregate while they also carried the advantage of an away goal.
However, Lucas Moura, playing in place of the injured Harry Kane, would go on to architect Tottenham’s greatest night in the Champions League. Lucas Moura found the back in the 55th and 59th minute before completing his hat-trick in extra time to take Tottenham to their first even Champions League.
This is a match that many of us will still talk about years from now when talking about the unpredictability and beauty of the game and for this reason it takes the 8th spot in our list of the Top 10 greatest comebacks in Champions League history.
#8) Deportivo vs AC Milan (2004) Quarter Final
Context is key here to highlight the magnitude of Deportivo’s victory over AC Milan. AC Milan have now fallen to the wayside and have become just another team in Europe. However, back in 2004, they were the defending champions.
AC Milan were also favourites to retain their Champions League title and they justified the tag with a mammoth 4-1 win over Deportivo in the first leg. At the time no side had ever overcome a 3 goal first leg deficit.
To do so against an AC Milan side that had not conceded an away goal that season was inconceivable and yet that is exactly what the Spanish side did. By half time, Deportivo had already punished an erratic Milan side to lead 3-0.
By the end of 90 minutes, Deportivo had beaten AC Milan 4-0 to win 5-4 on aggregate. Deportivo had qualified for the semi-finals for the first time but more importantly, they had defied mountainous odds to script one of the greatest stories ever told in football.
#7) AS Roma vs Barcelona (2018) Quarter Final
Before there was Liverpool vs Barcelona, there was AS Roma vs Barcelona. Much like AC Milan in 2004, Barcelona were favourites to win the Champions League. Instead however, their campaign ended at the Quarter final stage.
The Spanish Giants had put themselves in a favourable position by giving themselves a 3-goal advantage in the first leg at home. Fortunately for the Italian side, Edin Dzeko scored in the 80th minute to give them a very crucial away goal.
This goal would prove to be the difference between both sides as Roma tore through Barcelona to win the second leg with a 3-0 score-line. With their tie ending at 4-4 AS Roma made it to the Semi-Final on away goals.
No one had expected Barcelona to fall apart in the manner they did and yet it had happened. Barcelona were knocked out by an unlikely opponent. The giants were slain when no one had expected it to happen, proving once again how unpredictable the game is.
#6) PSG vs Manchester United (2019) Round of 16
Manchester United seemed down at out after PSG took a 2-0 lead at the Old Trafford. To make matters worse for them, their best player Paul Pogba had been sent off with a Red Card which meant that he would not be able to take part in the second leg.
A spate of injuries soon followed and United found themselves without 10 players. They were forced to pick academy players in their squad to make up the numbers. However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had said a day before that there was no such thing as a lost cause.
Not many believed him however. After all, no side had ever overturned a 2-0 deficit from the first leg in Champions League history. Once the whistle blew though, Manchester United vindicated their manager’s confidence.
By half time, Manchester United led 2-1. They just needed one more goal to win the match. Fortunately for them, they received a penalty in extra time. Marcus Rashford scored from the spot to give Manchester United their greatest night in the post-Alex Ferguson Era.
#5) Barcelona vs Chelsea (2000) Quarter Final
Barcelona’s journey to Stamford Bridge did not go as planned. The London side piled the misery on the visitors by hammering them 3-1. With one foot in the Semi-final, Chelsea were confident of seeing Barcelona through.
However, Barcelona tightened the screws around Chelsea at Camp Nou as they looked to do the impossible. Goals from Rivaldo, Luis Figo and Dani Garcia helped Barcelona negate Chelsea’s advantage. Fortunately for Chelsea, T.A. Flo’s 60th minute strike kept Chelsea in the game.
Extra time followed and Chelsea hoped to pull their socks up. Unfortunately for them, Barcelona ruthlessly carried on from where they left. Rivaldo added another goal to his tally in the 99th minute before Kluivert hit the final coffin in the 104th minute to end Chelsea’s hopes.
Barcelona completely outclassed Chelsea to win the match 5-1 and script and incredible comeback. The Spanish side had ensured their qualification to the Semi-final by completely destroying their opponents when no one expected it.
#4) Barcelona vs PSG (2017) Quarter Final
Barcelona is on this list with yet another miracle comeback. The likes of which may never be seen again. Barcelona were enjoying a good run of form and despite PSG being a tough opponent, it was thought that the Catalonian side would overcome them.
However, the Parisians ran circles around them at the Parc de Princess to win the match 4-0. Angel Di Maria scored twice while Julian Draxler and Edinson Cavani scored once each to hand Paris Saint-Germain such a huge goal advantage.
In the return leg, Barcelona paid PSG back with interest. Barring Cavani’s 62nd minute strike, PSG failed to find the net while the Blaugrana demolished the visitors by scoring 6 times. Suarez, Kurzawa, Messi, and Roberto each scored once while Neymar scored twice to help Barcelona win 6-5 on aggregate.
In terms of goal deficit, this is the largest comeback in the history of the UEFA Champions League. However, in terms of context, history and the story surrounding the match, this is just below the next 3 entries.
#3) Liverpool vs Barcelona (2019) Semi Final
Liverpool embarked on one of their best campaign in the last decade. They were almost invincible in the Premier League and looked set to play in their second consecutive Champions League final. However, Barcelona, who themselves were looking for a treble, had other ideas.
Despite playing well, Liverpool failed to reflect that on the scoreboard as Barcelona ended the match with a 3-0 lead. A spot in the champions league final seemed imminent and a 9th European title very likely. However, Liverpool still had one more leg to show what they were made of.
At the end of the first half Liverpool led 1-0. A much better display then the one at Camp Nou, but still at some distance from levelling the scores, let alone with it. However, Georginio Wijnaldum struck twice in the 54th and 56th minute and suddenly the entire Anfield grew loud and expectant.
After waiting for a little over 20 minutes, Trent Alexander-Arnold took a clever corner that found Divock Origi in the box. With half of Barcelona’s players looking the other side, Origi placed the ball behind the keeper to score Liverpool’s fourth goal.
The entire stadium erupted at once. Liverpool had done it. Barcelona were made to suffer another huge loss in the Champions League knock out stage while the Reds were on course to win their 6th Champions League title.
#2) Manchester United vs Bayern Munich (1999) Final
Manchester United and Bayern Munich entered the 1999 Champions League final with a number of similarities. This was only the second Champions league to feature clubs that had not won their domestic leagues the year before and both of them were the first such clubs to make it to the final.
However, both United and Bayern went into the match as Champions having won their respective leagues. United had also won their domestic cup while Bayern had reached the final of theirs which meant that whichever side came out victorious on the night would have completed the highly coveted treble or would have still been in the running for it.
While Bayern had won the European Championship on 4 different occasions, United had only won the title once back in 1968 under Matt Busby. The legendary manager had been seriously injured 10 years prior in the Munich air disaster, which killed 8 of his players on their way back from a European tie.
He would then go on to rebuild his team and eventually led them to a European Championship. The 1999 final occurred on the day of his birthday; had he been alive he would have been 90. There were a lot of emotions surrounding the match.
Unfortunately for United, Bayern took the lead in the 6th minute of the match. Bayern Munich had battered United for much of the match and it seemed that the Germans would win their 5th title. However, Sheringham equalised for United in the 91st minute to keep the game alive.
Present United manager, Solksjaer then scored Manchester United’s most famous goal ever within a couple of minutes to help United become the first English side to win the treble in conjunction with the Premier League.
Out of the blue
So sudden and surprising was United’s victory that the then UEFA president stopped watching the match and made his down to the pitch with a trophy decorated with Bayern’s ribbons while Bayern Munich player Matthaus commented that “it was not the best team that won but the luckiest”.
United became the first team to ever win the treble since PSV in 1988 and no other team would achieve the feat until Barcelona a decade later. If the list were purely about emotional comebacks, this win would top the list, however, in terms of a comeback there is still one that is greater.
#1) Liverpool vs AC Milan (2005) Final
Only a miracle could overtake Manchester United’s moment of glory and that is exactly what we have on our list. The Liverpool vs AC Milan match at Istanbul is considered one of the greatest finals in the history of the tournament.
Although this was Liverpool’s 6th appearance Champions League final appearance, this was the first since 1985. Milan were participating in their 10th Champions league final and their 2nd in 3 years. The Italian side were overwhelming favourites and they immediately proved why.
Captain Paolo Maldini and Hernan Crespo helped Milan walk with a 3-goal lead before half-time. By then, many had already counted Steven Gerrard and his men out. For the pessimists, the match was just to be another 45 minutes of torture. However, captain Gerrard has other ideas.
Charismatic captain Steven Gerrard led from the front to give Liverpool a sudden burst of energy. Gerrard himself scored Liverpool’s opener after lofting a header past the goal keeper. Smicer’s long range strike into the bottom left-hand corner reduced the lead to just 1.
Steven Gerrard made a run into the box a few minutes later. However, he was bought down and Liverpool were given a penalty. Xabi Alonso took the penalty but his shot was saved. Unfortunately for Milan, Alonso scored from the rebound to equalise for Liverpool.
In just 6 minutes of madness, Liverpool were back into the game and till the very end of the match, looked like the better side of the two. Unfortunately, after 120 minutes of play, neither teams could be separated and the match was taken to penalties.
Penalties
Both AC Milan and Liverpool had won their last European trophies through penalties however, one would have to leave the loser tonight. AC Milan missed their first two penalty shots while Liverpool placed theirs. Milan would then score in their next two attempts.
After 4 attempts Milan had 2 goals to their name while Liverpool had 3. If Shevchenko missed, Milan would have lost. Shevchenko hit the ball straight down the middle. Duden went down to his right. However, he managed to block the ball with his left hand to win the match for Liverpool.
The greatest comeback in a football match had been achieved. The sheer magnitude of the match and the enormous pressure that comes with it had been overcome to script a miracle in Istanbul. There may larger comebacks but none on the scale of a Champions League final and that is exactly what Liverpool achieved on that fateful night.
