Intro
The UEFA Champions League has given football fans some of the most thrilling moments in the sport’s history. Among them, few things capture the essence of the competition better than a dramatic comeback. Whether it’s a stunning turnaround in the final minutes or an improbable fightback over two legs, these moments remind us why football is called the beautiful game. In this article, we rank the 10 greatest comebacks in Champions League history—matches that left fans in awe and cemented themselves in football folklore.
10. Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich
Starting the list comes Manchester United’sdramatic 2-1 win against Bayern Munich in the 1999 final. In truth, it could easily be ranked higher, but – as it was only one leg – we’ve left it here. An early free-kick from Mario Basler looked to be guiding the German side to their first Champions League since 1976, but that quickly changed. In stoppage time, David Beckham’s corner wasn’t cleared, allowing Teddy Sheringham to steer home from Ryan Giggs’ shot to deny the Germans victory. But they didn’t stop there. With Sheringham again involved, he nodded it down and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tapped it in. Remarkably, there were just 101 seconds between the two goals.
9. Chelsea 4-1 Napoli (agg 5-4)
2012 was one of the most confusing seasons in Champions League history. Chelsea were in a crisis in the Premier League, yet they somehow won Europe’s greatest competition. On their way, they completed one of the greatest comebacks against Napoli.
With Roberto Di Matteo as manager, he somehow transformed Chelsea into a team capable of succeeding, despite little managerial experience. They lost the first leg 3-1, but goals from Didier Drogba, John Terry and Frank Lampard in the second leg took it to extra time following Gokhan Inler’s goal. Eventually, Branislav Ivanovic fired home from Drogba’s cross to win it in extra time.
8. PSG 1-3 Manchester United (agg 3-3, Man Utd win on away goals)
Manchester United were badly beaten by Paris Saint-Germain at Old Trafford in the first leg of their last-16 tie in 2018-19.
Though Neymar was missing for PSG, Kylian Mbappe ran the show and United were lucky to come away with a 2-0 defeat, made worse by Paul Pogba’s late red card.
But while Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku didn’t always dazzle together, at times they were a fearsome pair.
This was one of those occasions, and it was Lukaku who gave United hope with a first-half double either side of a PSG goal from Juan Bernat.
Tahith Chong and Mason Greenwood were summoned from the bench, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer putting his faith in youth as the experience of Gianluigi Buffon, Thiago Silva and Dani Alves wilted.
With 89 minutes played, fellow sub Diogo Dalot took a shot from range and Presnel Kimpembe deflected it behind for a corner – only for VAR to overrule the decision after an age of deliberation, and award the visitors a 94th-minute penalty for handball.
Rashford, still only 21, stepped up against an all-time goalkeeping great and smashed the spot-kick into the top-left corner. Neymar watched on, aghast. As far as United fans were concerned, the good times were back.
7. Deportivo La Coruna 4-0 AC Milan (agg 5-4)
Deportivo La Coruna lost the first leg 4-1 away to AC Milan. At that point, everyone thought it was over in 2004 because no team could come back from that against one of the continent’s greatest teams. Nobody told the Spanish side that, as they produced one of the most remarkable comebacks of all time. Walter Pandiani, Juan Carlos Valeron and Albert Luque all scored in the second leg as they pulled level on aggregate by half-time. Fran then went on to win it for the Spanish side in the 76th minute in front of a raucous crowd.
6. Real Madrid’s 3-1 Manchester City AET (agg 6-5)
Real Madrid had seemingly used up their miracle quota by the time Riyad Mahrez’s 73rd-minute strike put Man City 5-3 up on aggregate in the 2022 Champions League semi-finals.
In the last 16 they required a 17-minute hat-trick from Karim Benzema to overturn a two-goal deficit and progress past Paris Saint-Germain, while in the quarter-finals they went within 10 minutes of being dumped out against Chelsea before saving their skin in extra-time.
However, their most daring act of escapism was saved for Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens. After Mahrez’s goal, Madrid needed two to force the game to extra-time. The minutes ticked on by as the hope slowly drained out of Santiago Bernabeu.
Then, Rodrygo happened. In the 90th minute, the Brazilian nipped in front of Ederson to turn home Benzema’s cut-back header. A matter of seconds later, they scored again. Rodrygo was the man once more, rising high to head Dani Carvajal’s cross home.
Pandemonium ensued and Madrid rode this wave of momentum all the way to the final, with a Benzema penalty booking them a historic meeting against Liverpool.
5. Roma 3-0 Barcelona (agg 4-4, won on away goals)
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,” Peter Drury bellowed at the top of his voice as Roma came from 4-1 down on aggregate to take the lead on away goals against Barcelona. It’s one of the most iconic lines of commentary history, showcasing the pure passion and emotion in the beautiful game. Kostas Manolas’ goal came after Edin Dzeko and Daniele De Rossi kickstarted the comeback during a memorable night in the Italian capital.
4. Ajax 2-3 Tottenham (agg 3-3, Tottenham win on away goals)
This was a semi-final comeback in 2019 that really did seem to come from nowhere. Tottenham were second-best in the first leg and most of the second, 3-0 down at half-time and without Harry Kane.
Ajax had already beaten Real Madrid and Juventus and looked on course for a mouth-watering final with Liverpool, but the introduction of Fernando Llorente at half-time changed the game as Spurs’ other forwards pivoted around him.
Dele Alli released Lucas Moura to side-foot home 10 minutes into the second half, and the Brazilian kept his composure to find space in a crowded penalty area and grab a second just moments later.
Hakim Ziyech fired against the base of the post with 12 minutes to play before Ajax academy graduate Jan Vertonghen headed off the bar at the other end.
Erik ten Hag’s vibrant young side were feeling the pressure of Ajax’s long and proud history in Europe, and eventually they buckled.
Five minutes and one second into stoppage time, Moussa Sissoko lumped the ball forwards, Llorente brought it down, Alli poked it through and Lucas found the bottom corner.
Mauricio Pochettino celebrated like a man who had guided his club to the greatest night in their history, and rightly so.
3. Deportivo La Coruna 4-0 AC Milan (agg 5-4)
Playing against the European champions, Deportivo had already sprung one surprise as they went 1-0 up in the first leg in Milan back in 2004.
The Italian giants promptly put things right with a 4-1 win, and began to ready themselves for the semi-finals. After all, no side had ever come from three goals down to win a Champions League knockout tie.
Clearly, nobody had told Deportivo. They were level before half-time.
Walter Pandiani, Juan Carlos Valeron and Albert Luque scored as the Spaniards ran rings around AC Milan, with Fran winning it in the second half with a deflected effort off Cafu.
Rui Costa almost dug Milan out of their hole with a powerful strike from range late on, but Jose Molina pulled off a stunning save to preserve his side’s lead and seal their progress to the semis.
Deportivo coach Javier Irureta had prayed for a miracle and got one. Honouring a promise, he later made a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in thanks.
2. AC Milan 3-3 Liverpool (Liverpool win 3-2 on pens)
Some people dispute the Miracle of Istanbul’s place at number one. There have been comebacks from larger deficits, comebacks with the game won before a penalty shoot-out.
But this game is the comeback against which all other comebacks are measured.
The Turkish city was first settled some 2600 years ago, and is now home to more than 15 million people – but say the word ‘Istanbul’ to any football fan, and the first things they’ll think of are Xabi Alonso bundling home on the rebound, and Jerzy Dudek’s wobbly legs in the 2005 Champions League final.
AC Milan’s team that day reads like a roll-call of mid-2000s legends, and Paolo Maldini’s first-minute goal looked to set the tone. An exquisite double from Hernan Crespo killed the game off before half-time.
You already know the rest. Gerrard, Smicer, Alonso, all the way through to Shevchenko and Dudek.
A result that reignited the Reds’ love affair with Europe and ensured no Liverpool fan would ever accept that a game was lost before full-time again.
1. Barcelona 6-1 PSG (agg 6-5)
In 2017, Barcelona were on the verge of missing out on the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in a decade after a humbling 4-0 defeat in Paris.
It was a result that apparently signalled a changing of the guard – the nouveau riche putting one of the world’s grand old clubs to the sword, and signalling their intent on the European throne.
A comeback from 4-0 down had never been seen in the competition in 213 attempts, but Luis Suarez’ scrappy early opener got Camp Nou believing.
A comical Layvin Kurzawa own goal and Lionel Messi penalty either side of the break brought Barca right back into it, before Edinson Cavani thumped in a stunning away goal to leave the hosts needing three more.
Cavani and Angel Di Maria missed golden chances to end the contest, and were made to pay. Suarez and Messi had already stepped up, but truly this was Neymar’s night.
A stunning free-kick in the 88th minute, a penalty in the 91st, and a gorgeous floated pass from deep for Sergi Roberto to win it in the 95th. The historic ‘MSN’ meant Barca were never out of a game.
Final Thoughts:
The Champions League has always been a stage for the extraordinary, and these comebacks prove that no lead is ever truly safe in football. From last-minute heroics to tactical masterclasses, these matches have defined careers, built legends, and given fans memories that will last a lifetime. As the tournament continues to deliver surprises year after year, one thing is certain: the next great comeback might be just around the corner.
