FC Bayern goes into the second leg against Manchester City from a miserable starting position. But there have been bigger comebacks.
Munich – Not much speaks for the quarter-final second leg of the Champions League FC Bayern. Pep Guardiola and Manchester City come to Munich with a comfortable 3-0 lead, Bayern are in their worst shape in the most important phase of the season.
On the other hand there are the dreaded “Citizens”, who in their current form are considered by many to be the best team in the world. Reason enough to resign as a Bayern fan? Not even close! There have already been a few comebacks in the Champions League that hardly anyone expected:
Champions League comebacks: When “La Remontada” made the Camp Nou a madhouse
FC Barcelona – Paris St. Germain 6: 1 (2017, first leg 0: 4):
On the Catalan Mediterranean coast, after the desolate 0: 4 in the round of 16 first leg against PSG, it was agreed that FC Barcelona would have to give up the Champions League. But then came the miracle that later went down in history as “La Remontada” (“the catch-up race”).
Spurred on by a noisy Camp Nou, the team around superstar Lionel Messi quickly took a 3-0 lead. In the 62nd minute, however, Edinson Cavani scored for the Parisians and the quarter-finals were again a long way off, as a further three goals were now needed. The score was 3-1 until the 87th minute, then a Neymar brace and finally Sergi Roberto’s volley caused complete ecstasy.
Champions League comebacks: When a brilliant corner resurrected Liverpool FC
Liverpool FC – Barcelona FC 4:0 (2019, first leg 0:3):
Two years after the “Remontada”, FC Barcelona was caught cold. The Catalans didn’t let anything burn at home in the semi-final first leg against Liverpool – but experienced a bitter surprise in the second leg. Divock Origi sparked a faint hope at Anfield with an early goal before Georginio Wijnaldum turned the first-leg result on its head with a lightning brace within two minutes.
A stroke of genius then did the rest: Trent Alexander-Arnold took a corner with lightning speed while the Barcelona defender was still busy sorting itself out. Origi switched with quick-wittedness and duped Messi and Co. with his second goal to make it 4-0. Klopp and Co. reached the final for the second time in a row and this time they were rewarded with the title against Spurs.
Champions League comebacks: When FC Bayern flexed their muscles at home
FC Bayern Munich – FC Porto 6:1 (2015, first leg 1:3)
FC Bayern itself has already impressively demonstrated its comeback qualities. Pep Guardiola in particular, who as a city coach already warned urgently about the second leg in Munich, knows that. Because he was Bayern coach when the record champions defeated FC Porto 1: 3 in the first leg with an impressive 6: 1 in the Allianz Arena leveled.
Especially in the first half, Thomas Müller and Co. played really well and led 5:0 after 45 minutes against completely overwhelmed Portuguese. The Kicker spoke at the time of “football on the verge of perfection”. Thomas Tuchel’s team will need a game like this against Manchester City on Wednesday to make it into the semi-finals. (epp)
