Real Madrid vs Arsenal: The greatest Champions League comebacks EVER as Carlo Ancelotti’s side bid to overcome three-goal deficit
Real Madrid face an uphill battle after losing the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal 3-0.
Jude Bellingham’s side failed to impress on Tuesday night in North London as the Gunners dominated proceedings.
Declan Rice scored two outstanding free-kicks to beat Thibaut Courtois at his left-hand side – despite the Englishman never scoring a freekick in his career before the match. A third goal, courtesy of Mikel Merino claimed victory for Mikel Arteta’s side, as Eduardo Camavinga added to Madrid’s woes with a second yellow card in stoppage time.
But football fans would agree that if there’s one team to overturn the 3-0 deficit, it would be Los Blancos, especially as they hold the most Champions League titles, winning the tournament 15 times.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side can also take inspiration from previous against-the-odds victories in the tournament showing that a 3-0 first leg loss doesn’t necessarily mean you’re down and out.
Here, Mail Sport runs through the Champions League clashes that have seen a team comeback from a 3-0 deficit. Arsenal fans – cover your eyes.
Real Madrid endured a woeful night at the Emirates as they fell 3-0 to Arsenal in the first leg
But head coach Carlo Ancelotti can take confidence from some of the competition’s remarkable earlier comebacks
Arch rivals Barcelona are just one of the teams to have pulled off the seemingly impossible
Deportivo de La Coruna 4-0 AC Milan (agg 5-4), 2003-04
In April, 21 years ago, Deportivo de La Coruna cemented their names in underdog history after overturning a 4-1 deficit from the first leg.
The 2000s was a fruitful decade for an AC Milan powerhouse which included icons such as Kaka, Andrea Pirlo and Paolo Maldini.
Goals from the Brazilian, Pirlo and Ukrainian Andriy Shevchenko put the Rossoneri in a dominant position heading into the second leg in the north of Spain.
However, La Coruna turned the tie around in the second leg after putting four goals past the Italian giants including three goals within the first half to level the tie.
Fran’s 76th minute winner meant the unassuming Spanish side delivered the unthinkable to progress to the semi-finals, where they were eventually knocked out by eventual winners Jose Mourinho’s Porto.
The Galician team ended the season in third place in La Liga, adding to an already sensational season following their Champions League exploits against Milan.
Few could have predicted that the ultimate underdogs would have overturned mighty AC Milan
Deportiva De La Coruna set themselves up nicely with three first-half goals before delivering the hammer blow to their travelling rivals
Barcelona 5-1 Paris Saint-Germain (agg 6-5), 2016-17
Current Aston Villa manager Unai Emery thought his then PSG side had done enough after a 4-0 dominant display in the first leg of the last 16.
A masterclass from ex-Manchester United winger Angel di Maria, Julian Draxler and Edinson Cavani put PSG as firm favourites heading into the second leg.
Barcelona went back to the Nou Camp with a monumental task on their hands to turn the tie around.
Yet, the mighty combination of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar “MSN” inspired a remarkable recovery in the Catalan capital.
A third minute opener from Suarez set the tone of a potential comeback before PSG completely collapsed through defensive mistakes which saw a Kurzawa own goal and Messi penalty.
Cavani grabbed a goal for PSG in the 62nd minute before an outrageous Neymar free-kick and penalty late into the game put the score at 5-1 with PSG looking to go through on away goals.
In the dying seconds, Sergi Roberto connected with Neymar’s cross, sending the Nou Camp into pandemonium as Barcelona secured their place in the next round in dramatic fashion – a tie for the ages.
Combining Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar saw Barcelona bounce back from the brink
Paris Saint-Germain thought they had the round in the bag before the trip to the Camp Nou
Roma 3-0 Barcelona (agg 4-4), 2017-18
However, Barcelona would go on to be on the wrong end of successive comeback knockouts in the following two seasons.
It was an Italian horror show in the first leg as two own goals, Suarez and Gerard Pique put Barcelona in an excellent position heading into the second leg with a 4-1 lead.
The return to Rome set the stage for Roma to perform a miracle, prompting the legendary comments from Peter Drury.
Former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko opened proceedings early on before fan favourite Daniele De Rossi converted a 58th minute penalty.
Then, in the 82nd minute, Kostas Manolas’ near post header sent Roma through on away goals, coining the folkloric Drury commentary:
‘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!’
A truly incredible resurrection by Roma booked their place in the semi-finals, a night in Rome that the Stadio Olimpico will never forget.
Barcelona found themselves on the receiving end of a second-leg thumping against Roma
Kosta Manolas provided the necessary winner as the hosts profited from the away goals rule
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona (agg 4-3) 2018-19
Barcelona fans, continue to look away as the Catalan side let another lead slip in the second leg.
Messi’s outrageous free-kick headlined the game as Barcelona raced into a 3-0 lead against a solid Liverpool team, his set piece bringing out a wry smile from Jurgen Klopp.
Anfield was praying for a miracle in the reverse fixture, facing an in-form Barcelona side who were odds on favourites to win the competition.
Liverpool were quick out of the blocks as Divock Origi tapped in a rebound to give the Liverpool faithful some hope.
Georginio Wijnaldum’s quickfire brace helped put Liverpool level with a travelling Barcelona
But it was Divock Origi’s iconic corner which helped the Reds secure their sixth trophy
A quickfire two-minute double from Georginio Wijnaldum levelled the tie early in the second half, setting up an intense final 30 minutes of normal time.
Real Madrid bound Trent Alexander-Arnold’s quick-thinking corner caught the Barcelona defence off guard, putting the ball on a plate for Origi to tuck it away.
The result saw Liverpool reach the final where they went on to beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 to claim the illustrious trophy, leaving Barcelona wondering what went wrong.
