Most Iconic Champions League Comebacks | Greatest Remontadas

Barcelona 6-1 PSG (2017) — La Remontada

The greatest comeback in Champions League history took place at Camp Nou on 8 March 2017. Barcelona had lost the first leg of their round of 16 tie 4-0 in Paris, a devastating defeat that left their season in tatters. No team had ever overturned a 4-0 first-leg deficit in Champions League history.

Barcelona needed a miracle, and for the first 50 minutes, they built the platform. Luis Suárez scored in the third minute, heading home from close range. PSG's Layvin Kurzawa scored an own goal in the 40th minute, heading a cross into his own net while attempting to clear. Lionel Messi scored a penalty in the 50th minute after being fouled by Thomas Meunier. Barcelona led 3-0 on the night, and the aggregate score was 4-3 to PSG. The comeback was on.

But PSG struck a devastating blow. Edinson Cavani scored in the 62nd minute, smashing the ball past Marc-André ter Stegen. The away goal meant Barcelona needed three more goals to qualify. The task seemed impossible.

Enter Neymar. The Brazilian took control of the match in its final minutes. In the 88th minute, he curled a magnificent free-kick over the wall and into the top corner. 5-1 on the night, 5-5 on aggregate. In the 91st minute, Neymar scored again from the penalty spot after Suárez was adjudged to have been fouled. Barcelona led 6-1, and the aggregate score was 6-5. PSG needed to hold out for just two more minutes.

The stadium was in chaos. Barcelona threw everyone forward. Neymar swung in a cross from the left flank, and substitute Sergi Roberto, the right-back, arrived at the far post to stab the ball into the net. 6-1 Barcelona. The Camp Nou erupted in scenes of pure delirium. Barcelona had completed the impossible, overturning a 4-0 first-leg deficit in the most dramatic fashion imaginable. Neymar had been directly involved in four goals — two goals, one assist, and winning the penalty. It was the defining performance of his Barcelona career.

Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona (2019) — Corner Taken Quickly

Two years after their own Remontada, Barcelona found themselves on the wrong side of a miracle. Liverpool faced a 3-0 first-leg deficit against Barcelona in the 2019 semi-final, a result that included a stunning Messi free-kick. To make matters worse, Liverpool were without their two best attackers, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, both injured.

Anfield on 7 May 2019 produced one of the most extraordinary atmospheres in football history. Divock Origi, the Belgian striker who had barely featured in the Premier League, started the miracle. In the seventh minute, Jordi Alba attempted a clearance that hit Origi and fell perfectly for Sadio Mané. Mané's deflected cross reached Origi, who swept the ball past Ter Stegen. 1-0 on the night, 3-1 on aggregate.

Liverpool dominated the first half but could not find a second goal. In the 54th minute, Georginio Wijnaldum, who was not expected to start, came off the bench. Within two minutes, he had scored. A low cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold found Wijnaldum, who fired past Ter Stegen. 2-0 on the night, 3-2 on aggregate.

Two minutes later, the ball fell to Xherdan Shaqiri on the right. His deep cross to the far post found Wijnaldum again, and the Dutchman powered a header into the ground and over Ter Stegen. 3-0 on the night, 3-3 on aggregate. Liverpool had completed the comeback in just four second-half minutes.

The winning goal came in the 79th minute, and it will be remembered forever. Liverpool won a corner, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, the 20-year-old right-back, approached the ball. He seemed to walk away, as if waiting for another player to take the corner. But he suddenly turned, swung the ball into the box, where Origi was completely unmarked. Origi swept the ball into the net from close range. Barcelona's defenders were still organising themselves, and the quick corner caught them completely off guard.

The goal became known simply as "Corner Taken Quickly" — a phrase that entered football folklore. Liverpool won 4-0 and advanced to the final, where they defeated Tottenham to win their sixth European Cup. Jürgen Klopp called it "the greatest night of my career."

Roma 3-0 Barcelona (2018) — La Remontata

The 2018 quarter-final saw Roma produce their own version of the Remontada against Barcelona. The first leg at Camp Nou finished 4-1 to Barcelona, with Roma scoring a crucial away goal through Edin Džeko. The 3-goal deficit seemed insurmountable against the brilliance of Messi, Suárez, and Iniesta.

The Stadio Olimpico was a cauldron of noise for the second leg. Roma attacked from the first minute. Džeko scored in the 6th minute, tapping home from close range after a poor clearance from Ter Stegen. 1-0 on the night, 4-2 on aggregate.

Daniele De Rossi scored a penalty in the 58th minute after Džeko was fouled. 2-0 on the night, 4-3 on aggregate. The momentum was firmly with Roma. The decisive goal came in the 82nd minute. A corner kick was swung into the box, and Kostas Manolas rose highest to power a header past Ter Stegen. 3-0 on the night, 4-4 on aggregate. Roma were going through on away goals.

The stadium erupted. Manolas's scream of triumph became an iconic image. Roma had overturned a 4-1 first-leg deficit against the team that had produced the greatest comeback of all time just a year earlier. The football gods had a sense of irony.

Deportivo 4-0 AC Milan (2004) — The Perfect Overturn

In the 2003-04 quarter-final, AC Milan were the defending champions and overwhelming favourites against Deportivo La Coruña. The first leg at the San Siro finished 4-1 to Milan, with the Rossoneri's quality in full display. Deportivo were written off completely.

What followed at the Riazor was one of the most remarkable nights in Champions League history. Deportivo attacked from the first whistle. Walter Pandiani scored the opener, a fierce drive that flew past Dida. The stadium, though small by European standards, was deafening.

Juan Carlos Valerón, the elegant Spanish midfielder, scored the second with a composed finish. Albert Luque added a third, a powerful strike from outside the box. With Milan rattled and their defence in disarray, Fran González scored the fourth goal, completing the 4-0 victory. Deportivo had overturned a 4-1 first-leg deficit to win 5-4 on aggregate.

It remains one of the greatest upsets in Champions League history, a reminder that in football, no lead is truly safe.

Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan (2005) — The Istanbul Miracle

While technically a single-match final rather than a two-legged tie, the 2005 final is the greatest comeback in European Cup history. Liverpool's recovery from 3-0 down at half-time against one of the greatest teams ever assembled is the stuff of legend.

Paolo Maldini scored after 52 seconds. Hernán Crespo added two more before half-time. The match was over. Liverpool had not managed a single shot on target in the first half. But in the second half, the game was transformed. Steven Gerrard's header, Vladimir Smicer's drive, and Xabi Alonso's penalty levelled the match in six extraordinary minutes. Jerzy Dudek's double save from Shevchenko in extra time and his penalty shootout heroics completed the most improbable victory in football history.

The Istanbul Miracle remains the benchmark against which all football comebacks are measured — not because of the margin of the deficit, but because of the stage, the opponent, and the sheer impossibility of what Liverpool achieved.

Chelsea 4-1 Napoli (2012) — Drogba's Drive

Chelsea's 2012 Champions League run was built on a foundation of dramatic comebacks, starting with their round of 16 tie against Napoli. The first leg in Naples finished 3-1 to Napoli, with Ezequiel Lavezzi, Edinson Cavani, and a Marek Hamšík goal exposing Chelsea's frailties. The Serie A side had dismantled Chelsea, and the Blues looked destined for an early exit.

The second leg at Stamford Bridge was played under interim manager Roberto Di Matteo, who had replaced André Villas-Boas just weeks earlier. Chelsea scored early through Didier Drogba, his powerful header giving the Blues hope. But Napoli equalised through Cavani, leaving Chelsea needing three goals to progress.

Frank Lampard scored a penalty to level the tie on aggregate, and Chelsea pushed for the winner. Extra time arrived with the score 3-2 on the night, 4-3 to Chelsea on aggregate. But Napoli were level on away goals, having scored one at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea needed one more goal.

It came in the 105th minute. Drogba drove into the box and his cross was turned into his own net by Napoli's Andrea Dossena after Bram Ironside's shot was deflected. Chelsea led 4-1 on the night and advanced. The match ignited Chelsea's remarkable run to the title, culminating in their victory in Munich. It was the first of many comebacks that defined their 2012 campaign.

Tottenham 3-2 Ajax (2019) — Lucas Moura's Hat-trick

The 2019 semi-final between Tottenham and Ajax produced the most dramatic finish of any Champions League semi-final. Ajax, the brilliant young team that had eliminated Real Madrid and Juventus, won the first leg in London 1-0 through Donny van de Beek. In the second leg in Amsterdam, Ajax dominated the first half and led 2-0 after goals from Matthijs de Ligt and Hakim Ziyech. Ajax led 3-0 on aggregate and looked certain to reach the final.

Tottenham were dead. Their season was reduced to 45 minutes of football, needing three goals against a team that had not lost a Champions League match all season. Lucas Moura, the Brazilian forward who had struggled for consistency at Tottenham, produced the performance of his life.

He scored in the 55th minute, a composed finish after a pass from Dele Alli. The score was 2-1 on the night, 3-1 to Ajax on aggregate. Tottenham pushed forward desperately. In the 59th minute, Moura struck again, this time from a tight angle after a defensive mistake from Ajax. 2-2 on the night, 3-2 to Ajax on aggregate. Tottenham needed one more goal.

The minutes ticked away. The 90th minute arrived. The fourth official signalled four minutes of stoppage time. Tottenham won a corner. The ball was cleared but came back in. Fernando Llorente knocked it down, and the ball fell to Lucas Moura. He swivelled and struck the ball past André Onana. 3-2 on the night, 3-3 on aggregate. Tottenham were through on away goals. The goal was timed at 94 minutes and 58 seconds — the latest winning goal in Champions League knockout history.

Lucas Moura fell to his knees in tears. Tottenham had reached their first Champions League final. Ajax's brilliant young team were left heartbroken. It was a comeback that defied logic, a night of pure footballing drama that will be remembered forever.

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