Football is a wonderful game that has created so many memorable moments that only true fans remember. Besides last-minute winners, blowout games, or title-winning campaigns, fans also like comeback games.
Falling behind early is never easy. However, only the most mentally strong players, teams, and managers are capable of mounting a comeback that will raise them above everybody else. One of your favourite games has to include one of the largest comebacks in football history, and today, we want to remember the ones that have lifted whole stadiums off their seats in ecstasy.
Deportivo La Coruna vs AC Milan (Champions League Quarter Finals) 2004
Deportivo La Coruna mounted one of the biggest football comebacks in history when they eliminated AC Milan in the quarter-finals of the 2004 Champions League season. The Depor Blanquiazules were down 4-1 after the first game at San Siro, as the Rossoneri were already seen in the next stage of the competition.
However, Deportivo had something to prove that day, and they did more than that. At the home ground, they slowly started scoring and building their lead. It was 3-0 after the first half, with Pandiani, Valeron, and Luque getting on the scoresheet. At that point, the scoreline was level, with Deportivo having an advantage due to an away goal. Fran made sure to solidify La Coruna’s victory and seal Milan’s fate for the final 4-0.
Liverpool vs Barcelona (Champions League Semi-Finals) 2019
This one is still fresh in football fans’ minds, as it happened only five years ago. But it will forever go down as one of the Champions League’s football biggest comebacks. Barca won the first leg at home with a comfortable result of 3-0, beating the Reds to the ground. But no one could have predicted what would occur next.
Liverpool played without Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah at Anfield that evening. The deck was stacked against them. Even after taking a 1-0 at the half, no one believed that a comeback was possible. In stepped Georginio Wijnaldum, who scored two goals in just two minutes. But the final nail in Blaugrana’s coffin was slammed in by Divock Origi, who completed his brace and sent Liverpool to the final.
Man United v Bayern Munich (Champions League Final) 1999
The game that put Alex Ferguson on the map and one of the greatest finals ever played in football history. Bayern looked comfortable during the entire game, especially taking the lead in as early as the 6th minute of the game, courtesy of Mario Basler’s free kick.
The Bavarians entered stoppage time with confidence, aiming to simply run out the clock. They were minutes away from their newest Champions League trophy before super subs, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær, stepped onto the field. Three minutes into added time and two corner kicks later, the Red Devils were leading 2-1, lifting their second UCL title in history and completing one of the best comebacks ever in football history.
Liverpool v AC Milan (Champions League Final) 2005
The Miracle of Istanbul, as many people call it, the game between Liverpool and AC Milan marked one of the most magical moments in the history of football. The first half was all Milan. They entered the second half with a comfortable 3-0 win, with the Champions League trophy clearly in their sights.
Unfortunately for them, they only set the stage for one of the biggest football comebacks ever. It took the Reds a mere six minutes to level the score, with Stephen Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer, and Xabi Alonso all scoring.
The game entered extra time and finally, the penalty shootout where goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek emerged as the hero. He saved three penalties, with the deciding one being against none other than Andriy Shevchenko.
Manchester City vs Queen’s Park Rangers (Premier League) 2012
The final game of the 2012 Premier League matchweek did not only mark the start of Manchester City’s reign. It coincided with one of the biggest comebacks in English football history. Entering the game, the Citizens needed a win to secure the title ahead of rivals Manchester United.
However, at the time of the stoppage, the City were down 2-1. It took them four minutes to overturn the result in their favour. First, Edin Dzeko scored the equaliser in the 92nd minute of the game. Then stepped in Sergio Aguero, who scored probably the most important goal of his career. He slammed in the winner, claiming City’s first EPL title, which set the stage for the dynasty that would continue after Pep Guardiola took over.
Barcelona v PSG (Champions League Round of 16) 2017
The game between Barca and PSG is not only remembered as one of the biggest comebacks in football history, but it is also one of the greatest games ever played. PSG had one at home by no less than 4-0, making the game at Camp Nou a formality. But it seemed that their minds were already in the next game, as after 50 minutes, it was 3-0 to Barca. They only needed one more equaliser.
Edinson Cavani scored for PSG, putting Blaugrana three goals away from a qualification spot. Entering the final seconds of the game, Neymar managed to score a brace, putting Barca every so closely at a score of 5-1.
Nobody could have predicted what would happen next as the unsung hero of Barca became none other than Sergi Roberto. The player who played his entire career for Barcelona scored his most important goal of his career in the 5th minute of overtime. Camp Nou erupted in joy, and PSG were sent packing home.
AS Roma vs Barcelona (Champions League Quarter-Final) 2018
Barcelona found themselves on the receiving end of an elimination only a year after playing that magnificent game against PSG. Blaugrane were 4-1 after the first game played at home and were matching to Rome with hopes of sealing the deal and advancing through.
But Eusebio Di Francesco’s men had different thoughts in their minds. They firmly believed that they could make it. It all became so close to reality entering the final minutes of the game where I Giallorossi were 2-0 up. Edin Dzeko and Daniele De Rossi scored the first two goals. But no one could have expected that the hero of the game would be the Greek international Kostas Manolas.
The Greek centre-back went flying in after a corner and diverted the ball with a header past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Ajax vs Tottenham Hotspur (Champions League Semi Final) 2019
Both Ajax and Tottenham were surprise teams in the 2019 Champions League semi-finals. The two teams had incredible runs, but Ajax was the favourite entering this game. They put on stellar performances throughout the season and were one goal up after the first game against the Spurs.
Their chances of making the final became even greater after the first half. The score stood 2-0 in the favour, with only a half separating them from crowning their magnificent season. Unfortunately for them, Lucas Moure emerged as Tottenham’s saviour. He scored a hat-trick, crowning one of the greatest Champions League performances with a place in the final for his team.
The Spurs went on to lose the final against Liverpool in one of the least suspenseful UCL finals in history. Many would have rather seen Ajax in the final, as they would have surely put more resistance to the Reds.
