Barcelona reached the last eight of the Champions League last night, doing what seemed impossible by turning over a 4-0 first leg deficit against Paris Saint-Germain.
The Spanish side won 6-1 at the Nou Camp with goals from Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, Neymar and Sergi Roberto, as well as an own goal from Layvin Kurzawa. Edinson Cavani scored for PSG on the hour mark and it looked like the French side could hold Barcelona off after going 3-0 down.
However, Neymar struck twice in the last two minutes, scoring a free kick and a penalty, before he set up Roberto who poked home in the 95th minute. The Nou Camp exploded as Barcelona completed one of the greatest comebacks in tournament history.
But was it the greatest ever? Here are three games that could rival last night’s incredible result.
Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich, 1999
The 1999 Champions League final is one of the most famous games in football history. Sir Alex Ferguson’s United side were 1-0 down going into injury time after Munich had led for 85 minutes. In the three added minutes, the English side scored twice through Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, turning the game on its head.
What makes the result so special, is that with the win, United completed a historic treble. They’d won the Premier League and FA Cup in the weeks before this match and rounded off one of the club’s greatest ever seasons.
The final itself was also played at the Nou Camp, meaning last night was not the first time it had seen something special.
Chelsea 4-1 Napoli, 2012
After losing the first leg of their round of 16 tie against Napoli 3-1, Chelsea looked to be heading out of the Champions League in 2012. Manager Andre Villas-Boas had been sacked following the poor result in Italy, meaning the Blues were under the care of club legend Roberto Di Matteo.
Needing two goals without reply to go through, Chelsea were on course thanks to Didier Drogba and John Terry, who scored either side of halftime. However, Napoli’s Gokhan Inler struck to make it 2-1 after 55 minutes, turning the tie back in his side’s favour.
It was a night when Chelsea’s old guard were not to be denied. Frank Lampard scored a penalty to send the game to extra time before Branislav Ivanovic swept a winner home in the 105th minute.
The aging squad, that pundits suggested were past their prime, completed a huge comeback on a special night at Stamford Bridge. The rest, of course, is history. The Blues went on to win the tournament that year, beating Bayern on penalties in their own stadium a few months later.
Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan (3-2 on penalties), 2005
Liverpool were looking to become five-time European champions in May 2005 but, found themselves 3-0 down at half time in Istanbul against AC Milan.
Paolo Maldini scored after one minute and Hernan Crespo netted twice to put the Italians in full control at the break.
However, in a seven-minute spell following half time, Liverpool were level.
Steven Gerrard gave the Reds a glimmer of hope on 53 minutes before Vladimir Smicer made it 3-2.
Xabi Alonso leveled 180 seconds later, scoring a rebound from his saved penalty. In a matter of minutes, Liverpool had done the unthinkable.
They held on for the last 30 minutes despite Milan’s efforts and forced the game to extra time. Jerzy Dudek made a miracle double-save from Andriy Shevchenko after 118 minutes to set up a penalty shootout.
Dudek made himself a hero, saving from Shevchenko again, as Liverpool won 3-2 through the spot kicks.
An incredible comeback in Turkey cemented the English side as one of the most successful clubs in Europe.
There are only a few matches that can rival what Barcelona did last night. It was a special performance from a special team that will live long in the memory of football fans.
