6 COMEBACKS in UCL history that Liverpool can use as inspiration

 6 COMEBACKS in UCL history that Liverpool can use as inspiration 😱

Last Wednesday didn’t go to plan for Liverpool fans out in the Catalan capital. Even with a 3-0 defeat to Barcelona in the semi-final first-leg, there is still hope for Liverpool with second-leg comebacks scattered throughout the history of the competition.

So, here are six comebacks in Champions League history …and the first entrant isn’t too far back.

Roma vs Barcelona

In 2017, Liverpool’s opponents last night, Barcelona, played against Roma in the quarter-final of the Champions League.

After a comfortable 4-1 victory in the Camp Nou, most pundits expected a drab affair in the second leg at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Roma were having none of it and stunned the Catalans with a 3-0 victory, sending shockwaves throughout Europe and delighting Liverpool fans, who would go on to beat the Giallorossi 7-6 on aggregate in the semi-final.

Chelsea vs Napoli

In the 2012 round of 16, Chelsea were humbled by Napoli in the first leg, losing 3-1, which resulted in manager Andre Villas-Boas getting sacked shortly afterwards.

Chelsea legend Roberto Di Matteo was hired as caretaker manager and guided the Blues past Napoli after extra time. They stunned the Serie A side with goals from Drogba, Terry, Lampard .and Ivanovic sending them into the quarter-final.

Di Matteo and co would go on to claim the Champions League by beating Bayern Munich on penalties in Munich.

PSG vs Manchester United

In this year’s tournament, Manchester United were drawn against French titans PSG in the last-16 round.

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In the first leg, United were torn apart by PSG with goals from Kylian Mbappe and Presnel Kimpembe giving the Parisians a commanding lead.

But, if you ever need confirmation that PSG are the Spurs of Europe, then the second leg was all the evidence you needed. Two first-half goals from Lukaku and a last-minute penalty from Rashford sent United through on away goals.

Liverpool vs AC Milan

The 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul will live long in the memory for both Liverpool and AC Milan.

Milan were cruising to another European crown with three first-half goals from Paolo Maldini and two from Hernan Crespo seeming to put the contest to bed.

Liverpool came out in the second half and within 15 minutes had scored three goals from Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso. Penalties were needed to decide the winner. The reds came out on top with Jerzy Dudek saving Andriy Shevchenko’s penalty.

Barcelona vs PSG

And finally, the greatest comeback/collapse in Champions League history. In 2017, PSG hosted Barcelona in the first leg of their round of 16 tie.

Messi and co were like lambs to the slaughter in the first leg losing 4-0, which should have been the end of it. Goals from Julian Draxler, Edinson Cavani and two from Angel Di Maria sent the Paris crowd into raptures.

Barcelona still believed. They stunned PSG and the watching world with a 90+5 minute winner from Sergi Roberto. Goals from Luis Suarez, Layvin Kurzawa (og), Messi, two from Neymar and that last minute goal from Roberto gave the Catalans a 6-5 victory on aggregate.

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Real Madrid vs Juventus

Cristiano Ronaldo rescued Real Madrid from a shock Champions League exit as his injury-time penalty allowed the holders to edge out Juventus in the most dramatic of quarter-finals, taking them through despite a 3-1 defeat.

Real had looked certain to make the last 4 following 3-0 first-leg victory in Turin, but Juve staged a sensational comeback in the return at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Mario Mandzukic’s two first-half headers kept the dream alive before Blaise Matuidi capitalized on a Keylor Navas error to pull the Italians level with half an hour left.

But, just as a thrilling second leg looked to be heading for extra time, English referee Michael Oliver awarded Real a penalty in stoppage time.

With the game in the 97th minute, Ronaldo made no mistake from 12 yards, ensuring a 3-1 defeat on the night but a 4-3 win on aggregate.

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