The 5 best comebacks in the second leg of the Champions League

The Champions League will, of course, return to our screens this week, hosting the continent’s best eyes a spot in the final-4 of the competition.

However, one of those clubs that needs a little miracle to keep their hopes of new European glory alive comes in the form of Chelsea.

The troops of Thomas Tuchel, the current holders of the Champions League, will make the daunting journey to the Bernabeu on Tuesday evening to face Real Madrid, knowing they must clear a two-goal deficit in the first leg to advance. to come.

This is due to a Karim Benzema masterclass at Stamford Bridge, the last time he left the Blues in a 3-1 hole.

– 2019/20: 5️⃣ goals
– 2020/21: 6️⃣ goals

After back-to-back hat-tricks, Karim Benzema now has the same amount #UCL goals this season as he scored in the previous two combined!

The Frenchman is arguably the most in shape striker in the world right now!pic.twitter.com/6GO1YOyBdA

— Soccer on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) Apr 11, 2022

So, in anticipation of what should be a pulse-pounding night of football in the Spanish capital, at 101 today we’ve made some of the biggest comebacks in Champions League second-leg history, picking out five of those that we think are the very the best.

Liverpool vs Barcelona – 2018/19 Semifinals

First leg: Barcelona 3-0 Liverpool

Second leg: Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona

”Corner taken quickly…ORIGIIII!!!”

A night that etched the name of the oft-underrated Divock Origi into Liverpool folklore and, most importantly, set Jurgen Klopp’s men on their way to a first Champions League crown in 14 years.

After coming back from their semi-final showdown against Spanish heavyweights Barcelona three goals behind the late Lionel Messi magic at the Camp Nou, Liverpool was, unsurprisingly, widely written off by fans and pundits alike.

However, on a European night at Anfield, there is always a glimmer of hope…

The Reds, in turn, continued to shock the crowd, coming to the right of a 4-0 scoreline following doubles from both the aforementioned Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum, to send Messi and co. packaging from the competition.

Deportivo La Coruna vs AC Milan – Quarter Finals 2003/04

First leg: AC Milan 4-1 Deportivo

Second leg: Deportivo 4-0 AC Milan

The first entry on our list when it comes to the date it was managed, Deportivo La Coruna’s own four-goal comeback against the great AC Milan side of the early 2000s remains one of the biggest surprises ever in the Champions League.

Deported all odds to advance to the quarter-finals, Depor looked as good as done after slipping to a 4-1 first leg defeat at the San Siro.

However, as a Rossoneri outfit featuring the talents of Paolo Maldini, Cafu, Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf and Kaka took their foot off the gas, the underdogs took advantage in the most spectacular way imaginable.

Four unanswered goals in the first 75 minutes of the evening proved to be enough to see Deportivo marching, before finally being plucked into the league’s flagship spot by Jose Mourinho’s Porto by Jose Mourinho’s Porto.

⚪️🔵 Deportivo records one of the biggest comebacks #UCL history #OTD in 2004…

😱 AC Milan 4-1 Deportivo (Agg: 4-1)
🤯 Deportivo 4-0 AC Milan (Agg: 5-4)#On this day † @RCDeportivo pic.twitter.com/VQfw2EbmTI

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 7, 2020

Roma vs Barcelona – Quarter Finals 2017/18

First leg: Barcelona 4-1 Roma

Second leg: Roma 3-0 Barcelona

Barcelona’s second appearance on our list, and unfortunately for the Blaugrana, another one that no doubt still causes the occasional nightmare for the club’s supporters.

Meeting in the quarter-finals with Serie A AS Roma during the 2017/18 campaign, the Catalans saw, as expected, a comfortable lead in the first leg, making the trip to the Stadio Olimpico a week later with one foot firmly. in the final 4.

Arrogance, a weak collective mentality, a lack of respect for their opponents – put it down to whatever you want, but the fact was that again Barca just failed to get the job done.

Goals from Edin Dzeko, Daniele De Rossi and Kostas Manolas made for a historic evening for all those involved with Roma, amid jubilant celebrations in the Italian capital.

Chelsea vs Napoli – Last-16 2011/12

First leg: Napoli 3-1 Chelsea

Second leg: Chelsea 4-1 Napoli (AET)

Perhaps the toughest decision on our list, a number of candidates were considered before 101 finally decided on Chelsea’s ousting from Napoli during the 2011/12 campaign.

The talking points surrounding the Blues’ comeback proved almost unparalleled, with the second leg result coming soon after a bench change at Stamford Bridge, when Roberto Di Matteo was given the reins on an interim basis following the sacking of André Villas-Boas.

The first in turn quickly returned the likes of Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard to work, culminating in a West London proceeding that was forced into extra time due to goals from the iconic trio Lampard, John Terry and Didier Drogba.

Branislav Ivanovic then completed the turnaround with a full 105 minutes on the clock to secure Chelsea’s quarter-final spot at Napoli’s expense.

Not only that, but the result was the springboard for the retirees to march all the way to the first-ever Champions League title three months later.

Barcelona vs Paris Saint-Germain – Last-16 2016/17

First leg: PSG 4-0 Barcelona

Second leg: Barcelona 6-1 PSG

As old age goes… Always save the best for last.

Barcelona’s third and final gig on our list finally sees the Catalan giants to the right of the result, thanks to a night that has since been aptly coined ‘La Remontada’ (THE comeback).

After Paris Saint-Germain emerged from the French capital with a four-goal lead, the Ligue 1 heavyweights’ advance to the quarter-finals of the tournament was widely regarded as a foregone conclusion.

Some went so far as to suggest that Barca, as a collective, were ‘done’, on their way to hand over their La Liga crown to arch-rival Real Madrid as well.

However, the Blaugrana themselves, under the supervision of Luis Enrique, always seemed to believe…

And for, as it turned out, for a very good reason.

Luis Suarez’s three-minute finish proved to be a sign of things to come at the Camp Nou as the hosts, backed by a rowdy crowd, rioted en route to an eventual 6-1 win over PSG.

Sergi Roberto acted as match winner and slid home an agile finish five minutes after stoppage time, but it was Neymar who proved the true inspiration for the result, with a late brace before taking Barca’s decisive sixth.

Above all, the result remains the only time a club has ever fought back from a four-goal gap in the first leg to emerge victorious from a Champions League draw.

Honorable Mention: Tottenham vs Ajax – Spurs’ historic victory in the 2018/19 campaign is only missing from our list due to the fact that Mauricio Pochettino’s men actually went into the return leg in Amsterdam just a lone goal behind. Firmly in talks for the biggest comeback ever in the Champions League, but doesn’t quite fit the criteria here.

The same can be said of Ajax’s own turnaround in the round of 16 of the season at Real Madrid, as the Dutch heavyweights recovered from a 2-1 deficit in the first leg to spark riots at the Bernabeu, leaving Real Madrid in trouble. thanks to a dominant 4 -1 triumph.

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