Greatest Champions League knockout stage comebacks!

Goosebumps, tears of joy and sadness, anger, laughter, joyous fist bumps and many more are expected emotions during the UEFA Champions League season. The knockout stages of the world’s biggest club competition have always had an air of a “do or die” affair to them, hence the emotions.

In the past couple of years, fans all over the world have been served with incredible football by their favourite teams and sometimes, the opposition team. This season has been no different.

Lately, a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick inspired Juventus to 3-0 comeback win over Atletico Madrid to qualify for the quarterfinals of the illustrious club competition having lost 2-0 in the first leg at the Wanda Metropolitano. Meanwhile, Manchester United overcame PSG 3-1 at the Parc des Princes following a 2-nil defeat at Old Trafford.

We’ve seen two incredible comebacks this season and we hope to see many more. However, the UEFA Champions League is no stranger to these moments of unbelievable turn of events.

Here’s the Flexxzone’s list of greatest Champions League knockout stage comebacks:

1. Barcelona vs PSG, 2016/2017

Arguably the mother of all comebacks, the final events of the match are still surreal to a good number of football fans all over the world. PSG, having trumped Spanish giants Barcelona 4-0 at the Parc des Princes, were all but assured of qualification. But the Blaugrana had other plans for the night.

With the score line at 3-1 and PSG on the way to qualification, the last 5 minutes of normal time saw Brazilian ‘’wonder kid’’ Neymar score a free-kick, a penalty. In the fifth minute of injury-time, Sergio Roberto hooked in probably the most dramatic or ridiculous equalizer in the history of the knockout stages, sending the Spanish team into the next round of the competition.

For achieving this feat, Barcelona became the first team to fight back from four goals down to win a UEFA Champions League tie. It also became the fourth time it’s been done in any UEFA club competition tie.

2. PGS vs Manchester United 2019

For all the millions spent in transfers, PSG has never been quite lucky in Europe. Just like they were tossed out of the champions league two seasons ago by Barcelona, they were thrown out in a more embarrassing manner by a less fancied Manchester United team at the Parc des Princes, despite going into the tie with 2 away goals in the bag.

For all their dominance for large periods in the match, they were undone by two goals from Belgian striker, Romelu Lukaku, courtesy of blunders from the veteran goalkeeper Buffon. They also secured a controversial last-minute penalty from youngster, Marcus Rashford who helped Manchester United to the Quarterfinals.

A foul-mouthed rant from Neymar who missed the match due to injury ensued with the Brazilian superstar telling UEFA “Go **** yourselves!” for their decision to award the English side a VAR influenced penalty following a handball from PSG defender, Presnel Kimpembe.

Manchester United became the first side to overturn a two-goal deficit after losing at home in the first leg to advance to the next round of the competition.

3. Juventus vs Atletico Madrid, 2019

Eyebrows were raised when Juventus signed 33-year-old Ronaldo from Real Madrid, Questions were asked. Would he do well in Italy? Would he replicate the same goal scoring feats that made him Real Madrid’s all-time leading goal scorer? His performance in front of 41,000 Allianz stadium gave answers to these questions.

On the back of a 2-0 defeat at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid, Juventus was faced with the necessity of overcoming Atletico Madrid with a two-goal lead, one of the most defense oriented teams in Europe.

It was never going to be an easy task, but with Ronaldo on the team, there was reason to believe it was possible. Double-headers in each half and an 86th-minute penalty saw the Turin side advance at the expense of Diego Simeone’s team. The third goal drew tears from Ronaldo’s girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez and a huge cheer from his son Cristiano Ronaldo Jr.

The match showed contrasting fortunes for Ronaldo’s former team and current team, as the reigning champions were ousted in a rather cringy manner in the hands of Dutch giants, Ajax. While Juventus are on the march for a first champions League trophy in over 20 years, it will come as no surprise if Juventus goes on to lift the much-coveted trophy at the Wanda Metorpolitano this May.

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4. Chelsea vs Napoli (AET), 2012

The 2011/2012 season would forever be one of the most memorable ones for all Chelsea fans worldwide. The Club suffered a 3-1 first leg defeat in the hands of Napoli who had three of the most lethal attackers in Europe – Lavezzi, Cavanni and Hamsik.

The return leg at Stamford bridge was a much-anticipated affair as Roberto di Matteo took charge of his first European game for Chelsea.

A goal from the Swiss midfielder Gokhan Inler not only gave Napoli the lead again at 4-3 (aggregate) but also brought them level on away-goals. The Blues were back in a hole, but Frank Lampard’s penalty at least earned an extra 30 minutes. Branislav Ivanovic found the back of the net and, just like that, the Blues were bound for the quarterfinals.

The season proved to be far from over as Chelsea FC went on to knock out Benfica, Barcelona and Bayern Munich to become the first ever London club to win the Champions League.

5. Roma vs Barcelona, 2018

Probably the most puzzling comebacks of all time. Less than a year ago, Barcelona had pulled the greatest comeback in the history of the competition after knocking out PSG despite going into the tie with a 4-goal deficit. In Rome, it was going to be different.

Tagged “Mission Impossible” by Gazzetta dello Sport, the Italian side were not expected to advance but the players had other plans…

Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko opened scoring in the 6th minute after bustling past Jordi Alba and Samuel Utiti before rolling the ball past German shot stopper Marc-André ter Stegen. The tone for a possible shocker was set after Piqué’s foul on Edin Dzeko. Roma’s captain made no mistake from the spot as he guided his shot past the Barcelona keeper. All was set for the comeback. All that was needed was a sign and they had it already…

The comeback was complete in the 82nd minute when Manolas pulled away from his marker to the near post to meet Kolarov’s corner, they were all off the bench to join in the manic celebrations. Everyone was involved, from the executives at the VIP down to the ball boys at the bases. For the Roma faithfuls, the memories would last a lifetime.

Commentary from Peter Drury sums up the event of the night following Manolas goal:

‘Roma have risen from their ruins!
‘Manolas, the Greek God in Rome.
‘The unthinkable unfolds before our eyes.
‘This was not meant to happen, this could not happen, this is happening!
‘Barcelona, extraordinarily, (are) eight minutes from elimination.
‘(Roma boss Eusebio) Di Francesco does not know where to go, (Andres) Iniesta does not know where to look.
‘It’s a Greek from Mount Olympus, who has come to the Seven Hills of Rome and pulled off miracle!