This week marks the return of UEFA Champions League football with the round of 16, and we take a look back at five of the best ties from this stage of the competition over the years.
There are some big matches set to take place this week, which see some of Europe’s giants match up against each other to fight for a place in the quarter-final.
Chelsea 5-4 Barcelona, 2004/05
Chelsea went to the Camp Nou and came away with a 2-1 defeat, but found themselves 3-0 up after 20 minutes in the return leg at Stamford Bridge, before Ronaldinho scored that famous goal, making this tie a memorable one for individual brilliance, and plenty of goals.
Bayern Munich 4-4 Real Madrid, 2006/07
Real Madrid found themselves 3-2 up heading into the second leg, but Bayern Munich managed to hold on to a 2-1 lead in the second leg meaning that they went through on away goals in a memorable tie filled with action and talking points.
Barcelona 6-5 Paris Saint-Germain, 2016/17
PSG dismantled Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg at home, but in what is arguably one of the most memorable games in Champions League history, Barca famously won 6-1 in the second leg to secure their place in the quarter-final.
Paris Saint-Germain 3-3 Manchester United, 2018/19
No side had ever overcome a 2-0 home defeat in the first leg in the Champions League knockout stage, but Manchester United managed to do just this after Marcus Rashford’s 94th minute penalty meant that they went through on away goals after they drew 3-3 across the two legs.
Paris Saint-Germain 2-3 Real Madrid, 2021/22
PSG found themselves two goals ahead on aggregate after they went 1-0 up in the second leg at the Bernabeu, but a Karin Benzema hat trick meant that Madrid miraculously went through and ended up winning the competition that year.
What’s your favourite tie? Comment below!
