Top 5 Real Madrid comebacks in the UEFA Champions League

Real Madrid are the kings of Champions League comebacks. Iconic games against PSG, Manchester City and Wolfsburg are proof of their resilience.
Madrid suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat at the Emirates in the first leg of the quarter-final against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League last week. With the second leg kicking off on 17th April at 12:30 AM , the Los Blancos will have to stage a monumental comeback at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, winning important ties, staging iconic comebacks and making hory are no new feats for the men in white. With the crucial fixture closing in on Madrid, here’s a look at the biggest combacks staged Carlo Ancelotti’s side in recent times.
5. Real Madrid 3-0 Wolfsburg (2016 – Quarterfinals)
No l of Real Madrid UCL comebacks is complete without a Criano Ronaldo masterclass. The Portuguese superstar took center stage in this iconic Real Madrid comeback, in which the No.7 turned the tie around all himself. After a shocking 2-0 loss to the German side in the first leg away from home, Ronaldo made sure that Madrid went through, thanks to an impressive hat-trick. “At the Santiago Bernabeu, comebacks are always on everyone’s lips”, said Ronaldo after the win, something Vinicius Jr. and his teammates will place their hopes in on Wednesday night.
4. Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern Munich (2024 – Semifinals)
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In a heavily controversial win for the Los Blancos, Bayern Munich were sent home packing in the second leg of a heated semi-final after ‘super-sub’ Joselu broke German hearts. After a 2-2 draw in the first leg at Allianz Arena, Real looked completely off the mark, disoriented and out of ideas in the second leg. After leading 1-0 at the Bernabeu till the 88th minute, a Manuel Neuer error and another Joselu moment og magic had Real going through with less than 9 minutes left. However, controversy took over the game as the match official wrongly blew for offside, denying a Bayern equalizer.
3. Real Madrid 3-1 Paris Saint-Germain (2022 – Round of 16)
Having Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappe on the same side was not enough for PSG to defeat Real Madrid. Sitting on a 1-0 win in the first leg, PSG could see the end of the tunnel when Mbappe scored the opener in the second leg at the Bernabeu, putting them 2-0 up on aggregate. However, PSG crumbled, as they usually do in this competition, when keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made an error, giving Karim Benzema a way back in to initiate the comeback. Two more goals in quick succession saw PSG crash out of the UCL and Real book their spot in the Quarterfinals.
2. Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City (2022 – Semifinals)
Already on the back foot after a 4-3 loss to Man City in the first leg, Real were holding on for life in the second leg against Pep Guardiola’s side when Riyad Mahrez scored the opener, making it 3-5 on aggregate. 90 minutes on the clock, Rodrygo scored twice in two minutes to evaporate City’s concrete lead. In extra-time, Real completed one of their most famous comebacks in their favorite competition through a Karim Benzema penalty.
1. Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid (2014 – Final)
Real’s biggest win from a comeback comes against bitter local rivals Atletico Madrid in the UCL final. In a nervy showdown, Real were on the edge of defeat, trailing 1-0 and needing a goal in injury time to stay alive in the final. Up stepped Sergio Ramos to head home from a corner kick, forcing the game to extra-time. A depleted Atletico side was no match for the Los Blancos, as they truly run riot of their opponents. The final score read 4-1 as goals from Gareth Bale, Ronaldo and Marcelo handed the men in white their first UCL title in over 12 years.Story continues below this ad
So, with Real’s rich hory in dealing out gut-wrenching eliminations for their opposition, Mikel Arteta will take no chances at the Emirates. Despite a 3-0 lead, time and again, Real has proven that no score is too big to overcome, no side too mighty and no defense impregnable.