From Liverpool's miracle in Istanbul to Man Utd's fightback against Bayern courtesy Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, here are the greatest UCL comebacks
GettyLiverpool 3-3 AC Milan (3-2 pens.) | 2005
Rafael Benitez’s Liverpool were never favourites to win the Champions League final against a star-studded AC Milan team that included the likes of Kaka and Paolo Maldini, but certainly nobody expected a three-goal deficit by the end of the first half.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side had looked to be on course for their seventh UCL title in Istanbul, but the fight was far from over once the whistle blew for the second half. What followed is the most surreal, dramatic and overwhelming six minutes in football history – Steven Gerrard headed in a swinging ball from John Arne Riise that gave Liverpool one goal back. He celebrated the goal wildly, waving his arms in circles like a deranged butterfly. Vladimir Smicer netted two minutes later to make it 3-2, and then Xabi Alonso stepped up to take a penalty after Gerrard was fouled in the box. His first effort was blocked, but he scored from the rebound, and suddenly the Reds had come back from three goals down to make it 3-3.
Liverpool were victorious in the penalty shootout, winning 3-2 and bringing home their fifth European title.
AdvertisementGettyMan Utd 2-1 Bayern Munich | 1999
Of course, Liverpool aren’t the only side capable of staging dramatic comebacks on the biggest stage in European football. Manchester United were losing 1-0 to Bayern at the Camp Nou in the 1999 UCL until Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – brought on as substitutes – scored in the 91st and 93rd minute, respectively.
Mario Basler had given Bayern Munich the lead in just the sixth minute and indeed, his side had thought that they had won the game heading into stoppage time. Bayern fans had already ignited celebratory flames minutes before United’s equaliser, and ribbons in Munich colours had even been strung to the trophy. For the restart, Munich players were distraught on the ground and had to be helped up in order to finish the game.
It was a legendary season for Man Utd, the UCL trophy rounding out their treble success, with the Red Devils securing their second Champions League/European Cup title.
Liverpool 3-0 Barcelona (4-3 agg.) | 2019
They all said it was impossible. Barcelona won the first semi-final leg at Camp Nou by a resounding 3-0 scoreline, and even if the score was harsh on Liverpool, overturning that lead would simply be out of the question.
Famous last words.
Jurgen Klopp and his team had nothing to lose in the second leg. They had the weight of Anfield on their side, where strange things tend to happen. They had the belief that if there were any team able to do the unthinkable, it would be Liverpool.
The players knew it, too. From kick-off, Liverpool pressed Barcelona like no other, and were rewarded with a Divock Origi goal inside six minutes. Barcelona were startled, alarmed that Liverpool seemed to be so confident even at three goals down on aggregate. The pressing didn’t stop, and that, combined with the support of the fans, saw Liverpool score two goals in two minutes by Gini Wijnaldum, equalising to 3-3. Barcelona were stunned.
So stunned, in fact, that they didn’t even notice when Trent Alexander-Arnold was about to take one of the cheekiest corners in living memory, which Origi converted to nab the winning goal. Never before had a team overturned a three-goal deficit in the semi-finals of the UCL. Liverpool secured their place in the final where they beat Tottenham, and brought home their sixth Champions League title.
Getty ImagesPSG 1-3 Man Utd (3-3 agg.) | 2019
Man Utd had to overcome a two-goal deficit for the second leg of their last-16 clash against Paris Saint-Germain away at the Parc des Princes, with Paul Pogba having been sent off in the 89th minute of the first leg.
Things looked to be going the French giants’ way when Juan Bernat equalised to put the home side level after Romelu Lukaku scored early, but Man Utd – with newly appointed Solskjaer of that final against Bayern Munich fame at the helm – still had fight in them. Lukaku scored again before half-time, and Marcus Rashford scored from a controversial stoppage-time penalty to secure progress based on away goals.
