The UEFA Champions League has provided fans with unforgettable moments in football, and few events are as captivating as a dramatic comeback. Whether it’s a late-game turnaround or a remarkable two-leg fightback, these moments showcase why football is called the beautiful game. Here, we rank the 10 greatest comebacks in Champions League history—matches that left fans speechless and have become legends of the sport.
10. Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich
In the 1999 final, Manchester United stunned Bayern Munich with a dramatic 2-1 victory. Despite an early free-kick from Mario Basler putting Bayern in the lead, United managed to equalize in stoppage time through Teddy Sheringham’s goal from Ryan Giggs’ shot. In a turn of events, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored the winning goal just minutes later, sealing one of the most memorable finals in history.
9. Chelsea 4-1 Napoli (agg 5-4)
Chelsea’s 2012 Champions League run was full of surprises. After losing 3-1 to Napoli in the first leg, Chelsea fought back with goals from Didier Drogba, John Terry, and Frank Lampard to force extra time. Branislav Ivanovic then scored the decisive goal in extra time to secure their place in the next round, eventually winning the tournament.
8. PSG 1-3 Manchester United (agg 3-3, Man Utd win on away goals)
In a dramatic 2018-19 round of 16 tie, Manchester United overcame a 2-0 deficit from the first leg against PSG. Despite being without Neymar, PSG dominated the first leg. However, United’s second-leg performance, including a last-minute penalty from Marcus Rashford, secured an improbable victory on away goals.
7. Deportivo La Coruna 4-0 AC Milan (agg 5-4)
Deportivo La Coruna’s 2004 comeback against AC Milan is one of the most surprising in Champions League history. After losing 4-1 in Milan, Deportivo turned things around in the second leg, scoring four goals to secure a 5-4 aggregate win. A historic win for the Spanish side, they progressed to the semifinals after one of the most incredible comebacks ever.
6. Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City AET (agg 6-5)
In the 2022 Champions League semi-finals, Real Madrid pulled off an incredible comeback against Manchester City. After Riyad Mahrez put City ahead, Madrid needed two goals to force extra time. Rodrygo scored twice in the final minutes to level the tie, and Karim Benzema’s penalty in extra time completed their dramatic progression to the final.
5. Roma 3-0 Barcelona (agg 4-4, won on away goals)
Roma produced one of the most iconic Champions League comebacks in 2018, overturning a 4-1 deficit against Barcelona. Goals from Edin Dzeko, Daniele De Rossi, and Kostas Manolas led Roma to an unforgettable victory, sending them to the semifinals on away goals.
4. Ajax 2-3 Tottenham (agg 3-3, Tottenham win on away goals)
Tottenham’s 2019 semi-final comeback against Ajax was nothing short of miraculous. Down 3-0 on aggregate at halftime, Spurs came back to level the score thanks to a second-half brace from Lucas Moura, who then scored a dramatic third goal in the dying seconds of stoppage time to send Tottenham to the final.
3. Deportivo La Coruna 4-0 AC Milan (agg 5-4)
In another incredible feat, Deportivo La Coruna overcame a 4-1 deficit from the first leg to eliminate AC Milan in the 2004 quarterfinals. The Spanish side scored four goals to secure a memorable 5-4 aggregate victory, sealing their place in the semifinals.
2. AC Milan 3-3 Liverpool (Liverpool win 3-2 on pens)
The Miracle of Istanbul in 2005 is one of the most famous comebacks in football history. After going 3-0 down to AC Milan in the first half, Liverpool came back to level the score at 3-3. The match went to penalties, where Liverpool triumphed 3-2, creating one of the most iconic moments in Champions League history.
1. Barcelona 6-1 PSG (agg 6-5)
The 2017 Barcelona-PSG match remains the greatest comeback in Champions League history. Barcelona were facing a daunting 4-0 deficit from the first leg. However, they produced a sensational performance, with Neymar scoring two goals and assisting Sergi Roberto for the winning goal in the final minutes, completing a 6-1 victory that stunned the football world.
Final Thoughts:
The Champions League is a stage for extraordinary feats, and these comebacks prove that no lead is ever truly safe. Whether through last-minute drama or tactical brilliance, these matches have left an indelible mark on football history, giving fans memories that will last a lifetime. The competition continues to deliver surprises, and the next great comeback could be just around the corner.
