)
Bayern Munich will be hoping to take inspiration from past teams when they go into an almost impossible mission against Manchester City.
German champions Bayern Munich have a date with destiny on Wednesday night as they take on Manchester City in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash.
The Bavaria giants face almost an impossible task against Pep Guardiola’s men after losing the first leg 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium last week.
The odds are stacked against Thomas Tuchel’s men as they need to win by a four-goal margin to progress past the Premier League champions.
However, while the mission is difficult, there is always a chance, and as the popular saying goes, miracles do happen in football.
Bayern will be hoping for a miracle on Wednesday night at Allianz Arena, and they can take inspiration from some of their European rivals who came back from the head.
The German champions are not the first team in this kind of position. As a result, we take a look at some of the biggest comebacks in Champions League history.
Deportivo La Coruna 4-0 AC Milan (2003/2004)
Almost 20 years ago, Deportivo completed one of the greatest comebacks in Champions League history.
The Spanish side were up against a world-class AC Milan team, who were the defending champions then.
AC Milan had won the quarter-final first leg at San Siro 4-1, courtesy of goals from Kaka (2), Shevchenko and Pirlo after Walter Pandiani had given Deportivo a shock lead.
The odds were stacked against Deportivo going into the second leg as they were not only facing the defending champions but also the best team in the world.
However, the world was in for a shocker as Deportivo completed an unlikely comeback, winning 4-0 to send AC Milan out.
The Spanish side raced into a 3-0 lead at half-time thanks to goals from Pandiani, Juan Carlos Valerón and Albert Luque before Fran González made it four to seal a famous win for Deportivo.
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona (2018/2019)
Liverpool found themselves in the same situation as Bayern Munich when they took on Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final clash in 2019.
)
06:20 - 12.04.2023
ANALYSIS Tuchel who? Guardiola has banished kryptonite suggestions
The Manchester City boss claimed a third win on the trot against the Bayern Munich trainer, dismissing claims the German tactician had his number in 2021.
The Reds had lost 3-0 to a Messi-led Barcelona at Camp Nou ahead of the return leg at Anfield a week later.
To make matter worse, Liverpool were without their star players Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino going into the second leg.
Nonetheless, they still believed, with Salah spotting a “Never give up” t-shirt as a sign of things to come.
Liverpool got off the blocks quickly as Divock Origi put them ahead inside the opening seven minutes.
It stayed that way for the rest of the first half until Gini Wijnaldum made it two in the 54th minute. The Dutch international then scored his second and Liverpool’s third, heading home from Xherdan Shaqiri’s cross.
The miraculous comeback was completed in the 79th minute as Origi scored from close range after a clever play from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool went on to deservedly win the Champions League that year, beating Tottenham Hotspur in the final.
PSG 1-3 Manchester United (2018/2019)
Manchester United went into their second leg round of 16 clash against Paris Saint-Germain in 2019 with tails between their legs after losing 2-0 at Old Trafford.
Goals from Presnel Kimpembe and Kylian Mbappe had put the Parisiens in a comfortable position going into the second leg at Parc des Princes.
Man Utd’s task was made more difficult after Paul Pogba received a straight red card in the final minute of the first leg.
However, to everyone’s surprise, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s men were able to turn it around, sealing a stunning 3-1 win to progress on away goals.
Romelu Lukaku put Manchester United in front before Juan Bernat restored parity for PSG. Lukaku then restored Man Utd’s lead before Marcus Rashford’s penalty in the fourth minute of added time sent United through.
Roma 3-0 Barcelona (2017/2018)
Barcelona have been on the receiving end of some famous remontada, including the 3-0 defeat to AS Roma in 2018.
Roma were up against it going into the second leg at the Stadio Olimpico after losing 4-1 in the first leg at Camp Nou.
However, what followed was the stuff of dreams and miracles. The Yellow and Reds went ahead through Edin Dzeko before Daniele De Rossi made it two from the spot.
The comeback was then complete as Kostas Manolas headed in a corner eight minutes from time to help Roma progress on the away goals rule.
Manolas’ goal sparked the viral commentary from legendary commentator Peter Drury.
)
11:56 - 15.03.2023
UCL Liverpool’s greatest comebacks in Europe as they target another against Real Madrid
Liverpool will be looking to do the impossible tonight when they take on Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
He said on that famous night at the Olimpico- "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!"
Barcelona 6-1 PSG (2016/2017)
Barcelona may have been at the receiving end of some famous remontada, but they have also given some out, notably their famous win over PSG in 2017.
Barca had been thrashed 4-0 in the first leg of their round of 16 clash at Parc des Princes. Although they had Messi, Neymar and Suarez then, it was still considered mission impossible going into the second leg.
But what happened on that fateful night will go down forever in history. Barcelona took the lead in the third minute through Suarze before Layvin Kurzawa’s own goal gave them a two-goal lead at halftime.
Messi made it three from the penalty spot in the 50th minute, increasing Barca’s belief. But just as it looked like the Catalan giants would go on to score more, Edinson Cavani scored a vital away goal, striking a dagger into Barca’s hearts.
However, there was to be more drama Neymar scored a freekick two minutes from time before scoring from the penalty spot in the first minute of added time to set up a nervy finish.
PSG looked to be holding on until Sergi Roberto stabbed home a ball from Neymar in the final minute to make it 6-1 and send the whole Camp Nou wild.
Barca would go on to lose to Juventus in the next round but that night in Camp Nou will never be forgotten.
Related content
)
15:38 - 18.04.2023
Bayern receive boost ahead of Manchester City clash as forward returns to the fold
Bayern look to a returning star as they attempt to pull off a miracle against Manchester City
)
12:25 - 18.04.2023
Manchester City submit ₦172B plan to improve Etihad Stadium
Premier League champions, Manchester City have submitted a planning application to increase the capacity of the Etihad Stadium to more than 60,000.
)
10:47 - 18.04.2023
UCL Bayern Munich's Thomas Tuchel says Manchester City's 'mountain' not too big
Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel is under no illusions as to the task ahead against Manchester City in the Champions League but he is keeping hope alive.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)