The 2021/22 edition of the Champions League finally reaches its grand finale this weekend, as Liverpool take on comeback kings Real Madrid in the final.
The Reds come into the game hoping to win their third piece of silverware this season to go alongside the League and FA Cups. Meanwhile, Real are looking to secure their 14th European Cup to seal a treble of their own – although they will surely be hoping they don’t need one of their famous comebacks this time.
Los Blancos have had a rollercoaster run to the final, unbelievably overturning deficits on numerous occasions. For instance, they scored three second-half goals to dump PSG out at the round of 16 stage.
In the semi-final, Real grabbed two goals in as many minutes at the end of the second leg to force extra time against Man City. To complete the incredible turnaround, talisman Karim Benzema scored a penalty just minutes into extra time to send the Spanish giants to Paris.
However, they are not the only side with a history of comebacks in the Champions League. Liverpool have a proud history of never giving up. Most recently, their 4-0 win over Barcelona in the 2019 semis overturned a 3-0 first-leg deficit. It was truly a legendary European night that will live long in the memory.
As two of the most decorated sides in club football, the Champions League final lives up to its billing as the pinnacle of European football. It is made even better when one side sparks a comeback when all hope is lost in the showpiece game. Here are five of the greatest comebacks in the history of the Champions League and European Cup.
2014: Real Madrid 4 – 1 Atletico Madrid
Just when Atletico thought they had narrowly won the 2014 final, city rivals Real staged a memorable comeback.
Atletico were 1-0 up for most of the game through a Diego Godin goal. Unfortunately for their fans, a Real centre-back snatched away their victory at the death. Sergio Ramos powered home a header to send the final to extra time.
Los Blancos took over in the extra 30 minutes. Gareth Bale headed in a rebound following a classy Di Maria run, and then Marcelo slotted home to put the game to bed. A 120th-minute penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo completed the turnaround, as Real won their tenth European crown.
1962: Benfica 5 – 3 Real Madrid
In the 1962 edition, Portugal’s Benfica overcame a Ferenc Puskas hat-trick to defeat Madrid and claim their second successive European Cup, pulling one of the most remarkable comebacks ever seen in the process.
Los Blancos, already five-time champions at this point, had a 2-0 lead after just 23 minutes. Puskas and Alfredo Di Stefano controlled the first half, as the Hungarian scored twice. Benfica composed themselves and made it 2-2, before Puskas completed a first-half hat-trick to put Madrid 3-2 up at the break.
The Portuguese side sparked a brilliant comeback in the second half. They scored just after the restart to equalise. Then, the iconic Eusebio popped up with a brace as Benfica ran out 5-3 winners.
1999: Manchester United 2 – 1 Bayern Munich
Man United claimed an unprecedented treble in 1999 with a last-gasp comeback against German champs Bayern Munich.
The Old Trafford side trailed for most of the game at Barcelona’s Camp Nou. Bayern had the lead after just six minutes through Mario Basler. However, they could not find a second to put the game to bed.
Ferguson turned to two super subs in Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to try and get a result. But, heading into injury time at the end of the 90, United needed a miracle. A corner came out to Ryan Giggs, whose low effort went straight to substitute Sheringham. He diverted the tame effort home, giving Man United an equaliser in the 91st minute.
Now, most teams surely would have held for extra time. Not the Red Devils. Sheringham got involved again as he flicked on David Beckham’s corner. His header found Solskjaer, who pounced to poke the ball home at the back post. Ferguson’s side had gone from losers to treble winners in just three minutes. What a moment.
1956: Real Madrid 4 – 3 Reims
Real secured another of their incredible comebacks at the first-ever European Cup final to shock the partisan crowd supporting Reims at the Parc des Princes in France.
After just ten minutes, the French side raced into a 2-0 lead. However, Madrid pegged them back to 2-2 before the interval. In the second half, Reims restored their advantage through a goal from Michel Hidalgo. Unbelievably, the Spanish giants equalised once more just five minutes later. After a pulsating match, Madrid’s Hector Rial nabbed his second of the game late on to give Real a 4-3 victory.
This was Real Madrid’s first of 13 European Cup victories. They would win the subsequent four editions after the inaugural tournament, cementing a legendary period for Los Blancos.
2005: Liverpool 3 (3) – (2) 3 AC Milan
One of the most incredible comebacks in the history of the Champions League, Liverpool’s miracle of Istanbul will forever be in the minds of football fans.
An all-star AC Milan side took a very early lead via a rare Paolo Maldini strike. The Italian side then made it 2-0, as Hernan Crespo turned in an Andriy Shevchenko cut back. Shortly after, Liverpool looked finished as an exquisite Kaka through ball sent Crespo in one-on-one to make the game 3-0.
Amazingly, Liverpool’s response took just six minutes. Steven Gerrard headed home on 54 minutes to make it 3-1. Shortly after, Vladimir Smicer’s speculative effort just evaded Dida in the Milan goal to put the score at 3-2. Somehow, the Italians’ lead was cut to one goal.
Gattuso pulled Liverpool captain Gerrard in the box three minutes later, gifting the Reds a penalty. Spaniard Xabi Alonso’s effort was saved, but he speedily followed up to slam the rebound home and tie the game at 3-3. This improbable turnaround had AC Milan reeling, and they struggled to cope with such a collapse.
As the game went to penalties, the two team’s mentalities could not have been more different. Liverpool won 3-2 on spot-kicks, sealing a remarkable Champions League comeback and Liverpool’s fifth European Cup.
Featured Image Credit: Getty
