The UEFA Champions League quarter-final second legs kick off tonight, and for four of Europe’s elite, it’s now or never.
Aston Villa, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund all trail after the first leg. For some, like Dortmund, the task ahead feels almost impossible. For others, like Bayern or Madrid, the ghosts of past comebacks are ringing loud in their ears.
Need inspiration? This competition has delivered some of the most jaw-dropping turnarounds in football history. From Messi and Barca crumbling at Anfield, to Neymar’s brilliance in the infamous Remontada, these are the five greatest UCL second-leg comebacks of all time.
And who knows? By Wednesday night, maybe we’ll be adding a sixth…
Barcelona vs PSG: 2016/17 Round of 16
First leg: PSG 4-0 Barcelona
Second leg: Barcelona 6-1 PSG
Aggregate: Barcelona win 6-5
The greatest comeback in Champions League history has its own name: La Remontada. And rightly so.
After being battered in Paris, Barcelona needed nothing short of a miracle to reach the quarter-finals in 2016/17. Luis Enrique’s defiant pre-match message? “If they can score four, we can score six.”
By the 88th minute, they still needed three more. But then came the magic. Neymar curled in a free-kick, slotted home a penalty, and in the final seconds floated a ball into the box that Sergi Roberto bundled home. Cue utter chaos at Camp Nou.
PSG had one foot in the next round. Barcelona ripped that foot off and danced with it.
Memories of Barcelona ? Paris… ?
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 14, 2020
What will happen this time?#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/B4TOdDeHkH
Liverpool vs Barcelona: 2018/19 Semi-finals
First leg: Barcelona 3-0 Liverpool
Second leg: Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
Aggregate: Liverpool win 4-3
Anfield’s greatest ever night?
After a Messi masterclass at Camp Nou, Liverpool were three goals down and without Salah or Firmino. But Jürgen Klopp’s side delivered a performance for the ages in the 2018/19 semi-final second leg.
Divock Origi opened the scoring. Gini Wijnaldum came off the bench to score twice in two minutes. Then came that moment: Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cheeky corner, Origi’s instinctive finish, and total pandemonium on Merseyside.
Barcelona’s collapse, for the second year running, was stunning. Liverpool went on to lift the trophy in a forgettable final against Spurs. But who cares? This comeback was the real glory night.
? #OTD in 2019, Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona (4-3 agg). Best comeback ever?@LFC | #UCL pic.twitter.com/8rEZKMQX4Z
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 7, 2022
Roma vs Barcelona: 2017/18 Quarter-finals
First leg: Barcelona 4-1 Roma
Second leg: Roma 3-0 Barcelona
Aggregate: 4-4, Roma win on away goals
A year before the Anfield annihilation, Barcelona suffered another humiliation – this time in Rome.
After a comfortable 4-1 first-leg win, most expected the Catalans to cruise through. But Roma had other plans. Edin Džeko gave the Stadio Olimpico belief early on, Daniele De Rossi buried a penalty, and with just minutes to go, Kostas Manolas rose to flick home a corner that shook Europe.
Peter Drury’s immortal line summed it up best: “Roma have risen from their ruins… Manolas, the Greek God in Rome!”
?? #OTD in 2018, an epic quarter-final comeback sends Roma through on away goals!
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 10, 2021
? Barcelona 4-1 Roma (agg: 4-1)
? Roma 3-0 Barcelona (agg: 4-4)@ASRomaEN | #UCL pic.twitter.com/byW8awZBh5
Deportivo La Coruña vs AC Milan: 2003/04 Quarter-finals
First leg: AC Milan 4-1 Deportivo
Second leg: Deportivo 4-0 AC Milan
Aggregate: Deportivo win 5-4
Back in 2004, defending UCL champions AC Milan were flying after a 4-1 first-leg win at San Siro. But Deportivo La Coruña delivered one of the least talked-about, yet most mind-blowing comebacks in UCL history.
By half-time in the return leg, they’d already wiped out the deficit thanks to goals from Walter Pandiani, Juan Carlos Valerón and Albert Luque. Fran González’s fourth sealed the deal, sending the Spanish minnows into dreamland.
Milan’s star-studded defence of Cafu, Nesta and Maldini was torn apart in one of the most ruthless 45-minute blitzes the Champions League has ever seen.
?? #OnThisDay in 2004 ?
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 7, 2019
Madness as @RCDeportivo beat Milan 4-0 to complete a 5-4 aggregate win!#UCL pic.twitter.com/mYUClRcs1K
Paris Saint-Germain vs Manchester United: 2018/19 Round of 16
First leg: Man Utd 0-2 PSG
Second leg: PSG 1-3 Man Utd
Aggregate: 3-3, Man Utd win on away goals
No one gave United a chance. They were missing 10 first-team players. They were 2-0 down from the first leg. They were in Paris.
And yet, Solskjaer’s side pulled off the impossible. Two early Romelu Lukaku goals gave them hope, but PSG were still going through, until a last-gasp VAR penalty was awarded for handball.
In the 94th minute, Marcus Rashford – taking his first competitive penalty for the club – stepped up and smashed it into the top corner. Cue bedlam.
A new manager bounce for Ole? That night, it felt like fate.
? First club ever to win tie having lost the home first leg by two goals…
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 1, 2020
? Manchester United made #UCL history when they beat Paris in 2018/19 round of 16 ?@ManUtd | #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/i96WBRfhWk
Reckon Real Madrid can channel the Bernabéu magic? Fancy Bayern to flip the tie in Milan? Or think Aston Villa have what it takes under the lights at Villa Park?
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