Every three-goal first-leg deficit overturned in Champions League history | OneFootball

It’s advantage Arsenal in their Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid after the Gunners thrashed the holders 3-0 at the Emirates.

Mikel Arteta’s team produced a famous performance and will take a commanding lead into tonight’s second leg in the Spanish capital. Arsenal are almost there, but history has proved that a three-goal advantage does not always equate to progress.

Four times previously in the Champions League, teams have squandered such advantage to exit Europe.

Every time a team has overturned a three-goal first-leg deficit in the Champions League era

Deportivo La Coruna 4-0 AC Milan (5-4 aggregate)

Deportivo La Coruna became the first team to overturn a three-goal deficit from the first leg, with the Spanish side stunning holders AC Milan during the 2003/04 campaign.

Milan has cruised to a 4-1 win at the San Siro in the first leg of their quarter-final, with Kaka on target twice for the Rossoneri. Carlo Ancelotti’s side had lifted the trophy the previous season and looked set for the semi-finals again.

However, an astonishing performance from Deportivo earned the Spaniards a 4-0 win at the Riazor. Walter Pandiani kickstarted the comeback after five minutes and Deportivo were ahead on away goals before half-time. Juan Carlos Valeron and Albert Luque levelled the aggregate score before Fran fired in a fourth after the break to seal a sensational result.

Barcelona 6-1 Paris Saint-Germain (6-5 aggregate)

Perhaps the greatest Remontada of them all.

Paris Saint-Germain thumped Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of their last-16 tie, with Angel Di Maria the architect of the win. The French champion’s pursuit of a maiden Champions League title appeared to be gaining momentum, until an extraordinary second-leg collapse.

On a barely believable night in Barcelona, Luis Suarez put the home side ahead inside three minutes. A Layvin Kurzawa own goal and Lionel Messi penalty got Barcelona within one goal of levelling the tie until Edinson Cavani’s effort for PSG served as a sucker punch.

Or so we thought.

Barcelona still needed three goals with just two minutes of normal time, but inspired by Neymar staged the latest – and greatest – of fightbacks.

After scoring twice in quick succession, the Brazilian picked out Sergi Roberto to score the decisive sixth goal in the 95th minute.

Cue, bedlam.

Iconic Performances: Neymar inspires ‘La Remontada’

Roma 3-0 Barcelona (4-4 aggregate – Roma win on away goals)

A year later, Barcelona were on the wrong side of a classic comeback.

The Catalans were in control after easing past Roma in the first leg, with a 4-1 win suggesting only one outcome in terms of progress.

Edin Dzeko struck early to give Roma a glimmer of hope and Daniele de Rossi’s second-half spot-kick set up a tense finish. With just eight minutes to go, Kostas Manolas atoned for a first-leg own goal with a header as the Stadio Olimpico erupted.

“It is difficult to believe but we did it and did it in style,” Dzedo reflected to BT Sports at the time.

“Nobody believed in us before the game – they gave us a 5% chance of winning.”

Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona (aggregate 4-3)

Were previous scars between Barcelona’s consecutive collapses?

A season on from their dramatic exit in Rome, the Spaniards surrendered another big lead to exit Europe. Lionel Messi’s magic had put Barcelona in control of their Champions League semi-final against Liverpool, with Luis Suarez also scoring against his former team.

Liverpool’s hopes were further damaged by the absence of Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino for the return, but an electric Anfield roared on the Reds.

Divock Origi’s goal gave Liverpool the lead at half-time before Georginio Wijnaldum came off the bench to change the game. Introduced at the break, Wijnaldum scored twice inside a 122-second period to level the aggregate score.

With the Spaniards shellshocked, a quickly taken corner from Trent Alexander-Arnold caught Barcelona napping and allowed Origi to slam in the fourth.

It was the first time since 1986 that a team had recovered a three-goal first-leg deficit to win a semi-final in the European Cup/Champions League.

An epic and unforgettable Anfield night.

Read – The biggest Real Madrid comebacks in the Champions League and European Cup

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