This primary spherical of Champions League knockout play-offs has already delivered loads of leisure, with some actually mammoth ties set for dramatic conclusions because the last-16 lineup is set.
Actual Madrid’s last-gasp victory over Manchester Metropolis units up a mouth-watering tie on the Santiago Bernabeu subsequent week, whereas Paris Saint-Germain are all however by after a cushty first-leg victory over Ligue 1 rivals Stade Brest.
Elsewhere, Celtic face a frightening problem in opposition to Bayern Munich, with Brendan Rodgers’ aspect hoping to tug off an upset for the ages, whereas Atalanta will look to proceed their Champions League journey in opposition to Membership Brugge.
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For the reason that closing is often a uninteresting affair, the knockout rounds are the place all of the enjoyable is. With that in thoughts, we glance again on 15 all-time traditional knockout ties because the play-off spherical will get underway.
15
Borussia Dortmund 3-2 Malaga
2012/13 quarter-final
Malaga have solely ever certified for the Champions League as soon as, the place they loved a shock run to the quarter-finals in 2012/13, however had been in the end bested by Borussia Dortmund.
It was shut, although. The Spanish aspect held Dortmund to a goalless draw within the first leg earlier than taking a 2-1 lead within the second with simply minutes to go. In stoppage time, nonetheless, Dortmund scored twice by Marco Reus and Felipe Santana to e-book their spots within the semi-finals in dramatic style.
It was a bitter tablet to swallow for the Spaniards, particularly as Santana had seemed to be offside for the eventual winner.
14
Manchester United 5-6 Actual Madrid
2002/03 quarter-final
Ronaldo was the star as Actual Madrid dumped Manchester United out within the quarter-finals in 2002/03. Madrid put in a commanding lead following a 3-1 victory within the first leg by targets from Luis Figo and a Raul brace.
Regardless of United edging a seven-goal thriller at Outdated Trafford, Ronaldo’s memorable hat-trick secured a 6-5 win on mixture.
Ronaldo’s second purpose, which noticed him expertly management a protracted move after which volley previous United ‘keeper Fabien Barthez in a single fluid movement, grew to become one of the iconic in Champions League historical past.
13
Manchester Metropolis 4-4 Tottenham Hotspur
2018/19 quarter-Remaining
The primary leg of the 2018/19 quarter-final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester Metropolis was a slender affair, with the Lilywhites operating out as 1-0 winners within the first European sport at their new stadium. The second leg, nonetheless, was a goal-fest.
Metropolis led 3-2 after simply 21 minutes, earlier than Sergio Aguero’s purpose put Metropolis forward on mixture on the hour mark. However Fernando Llorente’s controversial purpose – which noticed the Spaniard bundle the ball into the online together with his hip (although some might say his arm) – despatched Spurs by on away targets.
In stoppage time, Raheem Sterling thought he had gained it, just for VAR to rule it out for offside. An absolute trendy traditional.
12
Chelsea 6-5 Napoli
2011/12 spherical of 16
The 2011/12 last-16 tie between Chelsea and Napoli was a real story of two ties.
Napoli dominated the primary leg in Italy, successful 3-1 due to targets from Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi. With the Blues on target for an early exit and dismissing supervisor Andre Villas-Boas between the 2 legs, they produced a dramatic turnaround at Stamford Bridge.
After targets from Didier Drogba, John Terry and Frank Lampard levelled the tie in common time, Branislav Ivanovic scored the winner in extra-time to ship Roberto Di Matteo’s aspect to the quarter-finals. Everyone knows what occurred subsequent.
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11
Bayern Munich 4-4 Man United
2009/10 quarter-final
Away targets proved decisive as Bayern Munich knocked out Manchester United within the 2009/10 quarter-finals, progressing regardless of a 4-4 mixture scoreline.
Bayern snatched a first-leg victory with a late Ivica Olic winner, although had been up in opposition to it as United took management at Outdated Trafford.
The Pink Devils led 3-0 within the second leg after targets from Darron Gibson and Nani. Nonetheless, Olic struck earlier than half-time, and Arjen Robben’s beautiful volley within the 74th minute secured Bayern’s passage on away targets. The Bavarians went on to lose the ultimate in opposition to Inter in Madrid.
10
Milan 5-0 Inter
2004/05 quarter-final
Not a comeback thriller, however a drama-filled derby – Milan took the bragging rights in emphatic style throughout their 2004/05 Derby della Madonnina quarter-final in opposition to Inter.
Milan gained the primary leg 2-0, with Jaap Stam and Andriy Shevchenko on the scoresheet. Within the return fixture, they prolonged their benefit with Shevchenko including one other purpose earlier than the match was deserted within the 72nd minute attributable to crowd bother, as Inter followers threw flares onto the pitch – one in all which struck Milan goalkeeper Dida.
UEFA handed Milan an automated 3-0 win on the night time, making it 5-0 on mixture.
The chaos additionally spawned one of the iconic photos as rivals Marco Materazzi and Rui Costa took a second to admire the flames.
9
Roma 4-4 Barcelona
2017/18 quarter-finals
After shedding 4-1 to Barcelona within the first leg of the 2017/18 quarter-finals, Roma’s probabilities of progressing to the final 4 appeared slim.
Nonetheless, in entrance of their residence followers within the second leg, they surprised the soccer world by successful 3-0, overturning the deficit to progress on away targets.
Edin Džeko opened the scoring in simply six minutes, earlier than Daniele De Rossi and Kostas Manolas sealed the comeback. His header was later immortalised by some iconic Peter Drury commentary.
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8
Chelsea 7-5 Liverpool
2008/09 quarter-finals
Chelsea and Liverpool have seen out some traditional matches over time, however none have been fairly pretty much as good as their assembly within the Champions League quarter-finals in 2008/09.
Trailing 3-1 from the primary leg, Liverpool got here flying out of the blocks within the return fixture at Stamford Bridge, scoring two within the first half to stage the scores on mixture.
Chelsea then scored three targets to make it 6-3, seemingly sealing the tie, however Liverpool responded with two targets in fast succession to arrange a tense end. As Liverpool pushed for an away-goals triumph, Frank Lampard scored Chelsea’s fourth, ending the Reds’ hopes of a dramatic comeback.
7
Deportivo 5-4 Milan
2003/04 quarter-finals
Milan had been the heavy favourites heading into their quarter-final tie with Deportivo La Coruña in 2003/04, and issues went based on the script within the first leg, with the Italians successful 4-1 on the San Siro due to targets from Kaka, Andriy Shevchenko and Andrea Pirlo.
Nonetheless, within the second leg again in Spain, Deportivo did the unthinkable, thrashing Milan 4-0 on the Riazor. Fran’s 76th-minute strike proved to be the essential purpose that despatched them into their first, and nonetheless solely, Champions League semi-final.
6
Chelsea 5-4 Barcelona
2004/05 spherical of 16
Chelsea’s 5-4 mixture win over Barcelona within the last-16 in 2004/05 had all of it: a comeback on residence soil, one of many Champions League’s greatest-ever targets, and peak Jose Mourinho dramatics.
After a 2-1 first-leg loss at Camp Nou, Chelsea stormed right into a 3-0 lead in 19 minutes at Stamford Bridge, however Ronaldinho’s magical toe-poke made it 3-2, that means the Catalans had been headed for the quarter-finals.
John Terry, nonetheless, had different concepts, heading in a late winner to seal a dramatic win for the Blues, which Mourinho celebrated in a pile-on together with his workforce whereas Ronaldinho and Barcelona supervisor Frank Rijkaard had been having a scuffle with safety.
5
Monaco 5-5 Actual Madrid
2003/04 quarter-final
One of many greatest upsets in Champions League historical past, Actual Madrid had regarded on target for a reasonably routine passage to the Champions League’s final 4 after beating Monaco 4-2 within the first leg of their quarter-final conflict on the Santiago Bernabeu.
Nonetheless, Monaco, impressed by on-loan Madrid striker Fernando Morientes, gained 3-1 at residence to advance on away targets, with Morientes making the distinction in opposition to his guardian membership due to targets in each legs.
Ludovic Giuly netted the eventual winner, finishing the three-goal comeback the French aspect wanted after Raul’s early opener.
Monaco went on to succeed in the ultimate, the place they had been crushed by José Mourinho’s Porto.
4
Ajax 3-3 Tottenham Hotspur
2018/19 semi-final
Tottenham’s hopes of a primary Champions League closing had all however vanished when Ajax had taken a 3-0 mixture lead of their semi-final conflict in 2019.
However Lucas Moura’s quickfire double had hurled them again into the tie, with a tense finale ensuing as Spurs had been one away purpose from advancing.
The Brazilian later wrote his title into Tottenham folklore with the newest of late targets to e-book their tickets to Madrid, sparking wild celebrations on the pitch and within the stands that may stay lengthy within the reminiscence.
Sadly, they could not fairly recover from the ultimate hurdle, coming unstuck in opposition to Liverpool.
3
Actual Madrid 6-5 Man Metropolis
2021/22 semi-final
Actual Madrid and Manchester Metropolis went blow-for-blow within the semi-finals in 2021/22 to provide a modern-day Champions League traditional.
Metropolis led 4-3 after an exciting first leg and prolonged their lead in Madrid by Riyad Mahrez. In stoppage time, nonetheless, Rodrygo scored twice to pressure additional time, the place a Karim Benzema penalty sealed Madrid’s place within the closing.
Actual secured their 14th European crown after overcoming Liverpool within the closing in Saint-Denis.
2
Liverpool 4-3 Barcelona
2018/19 semi-finals
A tie that birthed a Liverpool cult hero, the Reds produced a exceptional turnaround to succeed in the Champions League closing in 2018/19, beating Barcelona 4-3 on mixture.
After a 3-0 loss within the first leg at Camp Nou, Liverpool’s hopes appeared all however dashed. Nonetheless, Jurgen Klopp’s aspect overturned the deficit at Anfield, successful 4-0 with Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum each scoring twice.
Origi’s second, a thunderous end from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s fast nook, proved to be the decisive second – happening as one of the ingenious targets within the competitors’s historical past, perpetually cementing Origi as a Liverpool legend.
The Reds went on to beat Tottenham 2-0 within the closing, claiming their sixth European Cup, with Origi sealing the take care of a late strike.
1
Barcelona 6-5 PSG
2016/17 spherical of 16
Unquestionably probably the most thrilling comeback in Champions League historical past, PSG crushed Barcelona 4-0 within the first leg of their last-16 tie in 2016/17.
However in a legendary return leg at Camp Nou, Barcelona raced to a 3-0 lead. Nonetheless, Edinson Cavani’s away purpose meant they nonetheless wanted three extra to progress.
In opposition to the chances, Neymar supplied two of them, earlier than Sergi Roberto’s Ninety fifth-minute strike sealed a historic 6-1 win. So extraordinary was the turnaround that the second leg has since been immortalised with its personal nickname: “La Remontada” (“The Comeback”).
