Last month, Manchester United, succumbed to an unexpected 2-0 defeat at home against Paris Saint-Germain, leaving them all to do in the second leg at Parc des Princes. It seems like a mountain to climb for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United at the moment, but a good number of teams have bounced back even after enduring a heavy first-leg defeat. Ahead the return leg in Paris on Wednesday, we take a look at some inspiring comeback stories, and pick five most memorable comebacks in the history of the Champions League.
5. Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea – 2013/14 quarter-finals
Paris Saint-Germain flexed their muscles at home and picked up a comfortable 3-1 win over Premier League giants Chelsea. Eden Hazard’s penalty kept the Blues barely alive in the tournament, but there wasn’t much no hope for salvation. In the return leg, Chelsea came out all guns blazing at Stamford Bridge and cruised to a 2-0 win. Andre Schurrle and Demba Ba got on the scoresheet for the London club.
4. Real Madrid vs Monaco – 2003/04 quarter-finals
Real Madrid famed Galacticos cruised to a comfortable win 4-2 win against Monaco at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of their quarter-finals. Sebastien Squillaci and Fernando Morientes scored two invaluable away goals for Monaco, which ultimately decided the tie. In the second leg, Monaco registered a 3-1 win, with a Ludovic Giuly brace and Morientes’ strike knocking Madrid out of the competition.
3. AC Milan vs Deportivo La Coruna – 2003/04 quarter-finals
Serie A giants, AC Milan, had hoped for a straightforward quarter-final contest against the unpredictable La Liga side. Things went according to script in the first leg, as Milan picked up a 4-1 win at home. In the return leg, Deportivo, proved their mettle by pulling off something really spectacular. Walter Pandiani, Juan Carlos Valeron and Alberto Luque put Deportivo 3-0 at half-time before Fran Gonzalez scored to top off a historic night for the club.
2. Barcelona vs Roma – 2017/18 quarter-finals
“This was not meant to happen, this could not happen, this is happening!” – Peter Drury’s impeccable commentary perfectly captured the iconic night in Rome. Roma, after being thrashed 4-1 in the first-leg, somehow found it in themselves to mount a comeback in the return leg. Edin Dzeko’s goal and a Daniele De Rossi penalty put the pressure on Barcelona, before “Greek God” Kostas Manolas headed the winner in the 82nd-minute to hand Roma a 3-0 win.
1. Barcelona vs Paris Saint-Germain – 2016/17 round of 16
FC Barcelona became the first team in history to overturn a four-goal deficit to win a Champions League tie. The Blaugrana were hammered 4-0 in the first leg in Paris, virtually knocking them out of the tournament. Barcelona, however, made a historic statement in the second leg to etch their name in the history books. A brace from Neymar, a Layvin Kurzawa own goal, and one goal each from Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, and Sergi Roberto sealed a 6-1 win for the hosts