Biggest comebacks from British teams in Champions League history, as Chelsea take on Real Madrid

CHELSEA face an uphill battle to qualify for the semi-finals of the Champions League.

The Blues head to the Bernabeu looking to reverse a 3-1 defeat by Real Madrid on Tuesday night.

N’Golo Kante and his Chelsea team-mates face an uphill struggle to overturn Real Madrid’s 3-1 leadCredit: Rex

It really is a mission impossible for Thomas Tuchel’s side, if they want to retain any hope of reclaiming the trophy they won last season.

But, they should take heart from these amazing comebacks from these British teams in the competition.

Milan 3-3 Liverpool (L’pool win 3-2 on pens)

Arguably the greatest ever, and it happened in the final of 2005.

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Milan raced to a 3-0 lead at half-time, and seemingly had the game won thanks to goals from Paolo Maldini and two from Hernan Crespo.

However, the Reds weren’t done. Between the 54th and 60th minute the scoreline was level with Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso.

The match went to extra-time, where Polish goalie Jerzy Dudek pulled off a miraculous double save.

Liverpool then triumphed on penalties, breaking Milan’s hearts.

Liverpool’s goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek stops Andriy Shevchenko’s penaltyCredit: Corbis – Getty

Steven Gerrard kisses the Champions League trophy after the epic comebackCredit: Getty

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Man Utd 2-1 Bayern Munich

It’s the stuff of folklore. And another final in 1999.

After being battered for 91 minutes, Man Utd won a corner – trailing Germans Bayern Munich, who will still rue only being 1-0 up into the dying moments.

David Beckham whipped in the delivery, Bayern couldn’t clear the ball, it fell to Ryan Giggs whose mis-hit shot found Teddy Sheringham to side-foot into the corner.

Same idea for the winner. A Beckham delivery was this time met by the head of Sheringham who flicked the ball to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s toe who diverted it into the roof of the net in the 93rd minute.

As Sir Alex Ferguson said afterwards in his post-match interview. “Football, bloody hell.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer completed an amazing turn around against Bayern MunichCredit: PA:Empics Sport

Manchester United and Alex Ferguson celebrate winning the Champions LeagueCredit: Alamy

Arsenal 2-1 Barcelona

It goes without saying, Arsenal were up against a very good Barcelona team in 2011 – Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta, Messi, Villa and co.

Understandably largely outplayed by the better technical side, it would be English grit that would give them a narrow first leg lead.

Robin Van Persie’s 78th minute near post strike cancelled out David Villa’s first half strike.

Then a sweeping move ended with Andrey Arshavin sending Arsenal fans into ecstasy.

Andrey Arshavin completes a sweeping Arsenal move to put the Gunners 2-1 upCredit: Action Images – Reuters

Arshavin celebrates the memorable comebackCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

Ajax 2-3 Tottenham

After losing the first leg 1-0 at home to an Ajax side who had dumped out Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus, the odds were stacked against Spurs in 2019.

And it got worse in Amsterdam, when the hosts went 2-0 up (3-0 on aggregate).

Still, no Harry Kane, who was missing through injury, no problem.

Lucas Moura turned the game on its head with two goals in five mad minutes. Then, six minutes into injury time, the Brazilian completed his hat-trick.

Lucas Moura’s amazing hat-trick in Amsterdam downed AjaxCredit: Getty – Contributor

Ajax’s captain Matthijs de Ligt was left stunned by the amazing fightback at full-timeCredit: Getty – Contributor

Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona

In this two-legged semi-final in 2019, the Catalans had one foot in the final after a devastating 3-0 win at the Camp Nou inspired by Lionel Messi.

But Jurgen Klopp’s side had other ideas, even if their squad was depleted and without talisman Mo Salah and his strike partner Roberto Firmino.

An early goal from Divock Origi gave them a glimmer of hope, before Georginio Wijnaldum struck twice to bring the tie level.

Origi would finish the comeback to send the Kop wild.

“The belief in the changing room is incredible,” captain Jordan Henderson revealed. “We knew we could pull something off.”

Liverpool’s Divock Origi puts Liverpool 1-0 upCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

The Anfield scoreboard shows 4-0 as Lionel Messi looks dejectedCredit: Getty Images – Getty

PSG 1-3 Man Utd

The Red Devils were battered by Neymar and Kylian Mbappe at Old Trafford, and were lucky to trail just 2-0 from the first leg from the 2018-19 season.

When Juan Bernat equalised a Romelu Lukaku strike, United’s heads could’ve dropped. But they didn’t.

Lukaku added a second before United were awarded a controversial penalty after Presnel Kimpembe was adjudged to have handled a Diogo Dalot shot in the area.

Step-forward a brave 21-year-old Marcus Rashford, who confidently slammed the ball past Gianluigi Buffon for an unlikely 94th minute winner.

Marcus Rashford was the match-winner for Man Utd against PSG from the penalty spotCredit: AFP or licensors

Rashford consoles PSG’s Kylian MbappeCredit: AFP or licensors

Chelsea 4-1 Napoli

In 2012 Chelsea were in a chaos similar to where they are now.

Soundly beaten 3-1 in a last-16 clash in Naples, Andre Villas Boas was subsequently sacked and replaced with Roberto Di Matteo.

Didier Drogba, John Terry and Frank Lampard all scored to take the game into extra-time.

Branislav Ivanovic was the hero firing home from Drogba’s cross.

That year, Chelsea would be victorious and win the competition beating Bayern Munich in the final.

Clearly, it was written in the stars. Could history repeat itself?

Branislav Ivanovic scores Chelsea’s fourth in extra-time to complete a famous comebackCredit: Graham Hughes – The Times

Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard of Chelsea celebrate their team’s unlikely victory after the final whistleCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk