Best comebacks in Champions League's history

Tonight and tomorrow are scheduled the second legs of the 2018/19 Champions League semi-finals, and for one of the four teams there is a challenge at least prohibitive: we are talking about Liverpool, which without Salah and Firmino will face a huge battle. Reds, in fact, coming from the 3-0 defeat at the Camp Nou against Barça, will have to hope for the perfect match to reach the final. The English team will surely exploit the support of its stadium, hoping that the Catalans will find themselves in the evening as bad as they were in Rome a year ago. The history of the Champions League in fact teaches us that nothing is impossible on theory: to inspire what would be a resounding comeback, we decided to collect some of the best comebacks in the history of the greatest European competition.

Juventus v Atletico Madrid, last sixteen 2019

Not even two months have passed since the Allianz Stadium night, when Juventus managed to recover the 2-0 of the first leg suffered in Spain overturning the qualification: thanks to an imperfonable defense, to a hermetic midfield but above all to the superb performance of Cristiano Ronaldo, able to score a dream hat-trick against the colchoneros, after he had been definitely in the shadow in the first match.

Paris Saint-Germain v Manchester United, last sixteen 2019

It's not the first time that the Parisian team is the protagonist of a failed qualification: this time the exploit on the contrary has been to waste the 2-0 away win, an advantage that no one had ever throw away in the history of the Champions League. The mockery was even more likely given the opponent, the miraculous Solskjaer's Manchester United, capable of winning 3-1 at the Parc des Princeps with a 94th penalty, assigned by VAR, despite a squad full by absences.

AS Roma v Barcelona, quarter-finals 2018

The night of April 10th, 2018 is one that every Roma supporter will never forget, and perhaps also the same may also be said of some Catalan supporters who have had difficulty believing their eyes: after Camp Nou's 4-1, in fact, the Giallorossi were called to the impossible comeback, that of beating Barça with three goals without suffering any. This was realized thanks to the perfect match, also thanks to an unrecognizable Barça, punished by the goals of Dzeko, De Rossi and Manolas in the final minutes.

Barcelona v Paris Saint-Germain, last sixteen 2017

With a 4-0 loss in the first leg of the Champions League last sixteen against Paris Saint-Germain, the Blaugrana managed to score six goals to the French side, gaining an unbelievable win and the pass for the next round. It’s the first time in history that a team is able to come back from a 4-0 loss and Sergi Roberto's goal will always remain the in the history of football.

Monaco v Real Madrid, quarter-finals 2004

In this occasion, the team from the Principality was in the uncomfortable position of coming back from a 4-2 loss in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu. But Monaco, led by Giuly and the former Real Madrid Fernando Morientes, won the second leg 3-1. Unfortunately, they would’ve lost in the Final against José Mourinho’s Porto.

Deportivo v Milan, quarter-finals 2004

Same year and same round. Carletto Ancelotti’s Milan showed up at the Riazor with a comfortable 4-1 win at the San Siro. But in 76 minutes the Rossoneri conceded 4 goals to Pandiani, Valerón, Luque and Fran. As Monaco, Deportivo would’ve lost against Porto and the Special One.

Chelsea v Napoli, last sixteen 2012

An unbelievable comeback, more for Chelsea’s situation that the first leg result. A couple of weeks later the 3-1 loss in Naples, Blues’ manager Andre Villas-Boas was sacked. Days before the second leg, Roberto Di Matteo become the new Chelsea manager and somehow he led the Blues not only to the comeback against Napoli - 4-1 win at the extra time - but to win the Champions League.

Manchester United v Bayern Monaco, final 1999

One of the most famous Champions League finals, and football matches in general. At the 90th minute, Sir Alex Ferguson’s Red Devils were down 1-0. But in the three minutes of the extra time, they scored twice with the two substitutes from the bench, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham.

Liverpool v Milan, final 2005

The memory is very much alive in both supporters’ memory, even if for different reasons. At halftime, Milan was leading 3-0 with Maldini and Crespo goals, but in the second half, everything changed. Liverpool scored thrice in six minuted to draw the match and then win the trophy after penalties. It’s still one of the most unbelievable matches ever.