Tottenham & Liverpool: Greatest Champions League comebacks of all time

By Chris PeddyBBC Sport
Tottenham celebrate their Champions League semi-final win (top) and Liverpool celebrate Tuesday's semi-final win
Whose Champions League semi-final victory was more extraordinary?

Tottenham and Liverpool left football fans gasping in disbelief this week as they both defied the odds to set up an all-English Champions League final.

The Reds fought back from a 3-0 first-leg deficit to defeat tournament favourites Barcelona on an incredible night of drama at Anfield.

And a day later, Lucas Moura completed his hat-trick in the sixth minute of stoppage time as Spurs fought from 2-0 down on the night and 3-0 on aggregate to overcome Ajax on their own patch.

Indeed some of the biggest moments in Champions League history involve teams fighting back from several goals down to defy the odds.

And - Manchester United fans - we haven't included that night because this is about overturning big deficits!

On Wednesday, you voted Liverpool's victory against Barcelona as the greatest ever Champions League comeback - that received 40% of votes cast with the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan picking up 39%.

But have Spurs' heroics changed your mind?

If you are viewing this page on the BBC News app please click here to vote.

2018-19 SF: Moura hat-trick as Tottenham produce Houdini act

Aggregate 3-3: Tottenham 0-1 Ajax/Ajax 2-3 Tottenham - Tottenham win on away goals

Lucas Moura
Lucas Moura became only the fifth player to score a Champions League semi-final hat-trick

No wonder Mauricio Pochettino was left in tears at the end of the match. The Argentine manager had just masterminded arguably his side's greatest performance during his tenure - and that coming after the remarkable quarter-final success over Manchester City.

The London club were 1-0 down after the first leg which became 3-0 on aggregate after 35 minutes inside the Amsterdam Arena. Ajax fans were singing as their side, who had seen off Real Madrid and Juventus, looked set to take up the other spot in the final at Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano.

But then the game took on a different complexion in four remarkable minutes shortly after the restart, courtesy of Moura's double.

Spurs continued to search for that all-important third but it looked like it was never coming with keeper Andre Onana keeping the visiting attack at bay. But with time running out, the man of the night used all his remaining energy to send a low shot past the reach of the Cameroon international.

Like Liverpool's Divock Origi on Tuesday, Brazilian Moura is now part of Champions League folklore.

2018-19 SF: Liverpool stun Barca in famous Anfield night (40% in original vote)

Divock Origi
Divock Origi was Liverpool's unlikely hero

Aggregate 4-3: Barcelona 3-0 Liverpool/Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona

A late Lionel Messi masterclass at the Nou Camp left Liverpool's hopes of a second successive Champions League final dangling by a thread. The Argentine scored twice, including a sensational free-kick - his 600th Barcelona goal.

Even the most optimistic Liverpool fan could not have held out much hope after star forwards Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino were ruled out of the second leg through injury.

Origi gave them hope in the seventh minute but they could not find a second goal before the break.

A turning point saw pantomime villain Luis Suarez injure Andy Robertson, leaving the Scot to be replaced by Georginio Wijnaldum. And his two goals in 122 seconds levelled the tie.

Origi scored a winner which will live long in the memory, turning home Trent Alexander-Arnold's corner while Barcelona switched off. Cue scenes of pandemonium at the final whistle.

2017-18 QF: Barcelona stunned in thrilling Roma fightback (2% in original vote)

Aggregate 4-4: Barcelona 4-1 Roma/Roma 3-0 Barcelona - Roma win on away goals

Roma players celebrate reaching their first semi-final in Europe's premier competition since 1984
Roma reached the semi-finals of Europe's premier competition for the first since since 1984

Sound familiar? Barcelona looked to have this quarter-final tie sewn up in the first leg at the Nou Camp after Gerard Pique and Luis Suarez added to own goals from Daniele de Rossi and Kostas Manolas.

But what looked like a consolation in the 80th minute from former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko proved to be crucial.

The Bosnian put Roma ahead after just six minutes in the return leg before a De Rossi penalty and a Manolas header atoned for their Nou Camp mistakes and led the Italian side to an unfathomable win on away goals. Cue madness in the Stadio Olympico stands.

After the match, Dzeko said: "Nobody believed in us before the game - they gave us a 5% chance of winning. The win is difficult to describe. We will enjoy the semi-finals - I do not fear anyone."

The dream didn't last much longer for Roma, as they were beaten 5-2 at Anfield by Liverpool and 7-6 on aggregate.

2004-05 final: That night in Istanbul (39% in original vote)

AC Milan 3-3 Liverpool - Liverpool win 3-2 on penalties

Liverpool players celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2004/05 Champions League final
Liverpool players celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2004-05 Champions League final on penalties against AC Milan in Istanbul

While all the other entries on this list happened over two legs, the Reds squeezed their comeback into 45 second-half minutes (plus extra time and penalties) in the 2005 final.

A rollercoaster of emotion from start to finish, this was one of the gutsiest comebacks in the history of the Champions League. What was meant to be Liverpool's big moment quickly fell to pieces, with Milan captain Paolo Maldini grabbing a first-minute lead before Hernan Crespo scored twice to put Milan 3-0 up.

The game looked over at half-time but six mad second-half minutes saw captain and talisman Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso score to level the tie and take it to penalties. Liverpool won the shootout with goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek the hero and Gerrard declaring his love of the club soon after, having been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea.

"How can I think of leaving Liverpool on a night like this?" he said, before taking the trophy to bed with him.

2011-12 last 16: Would-be champions Chelsea refuse to go out (1% in original vote)

Aggregate 5-4: Napoli 3-1 Chelsea/Chelsea 4-1 Napoli AET

Didier Drogba celebrates scoring against Napoli in the Champions League in 2011-12
Chelsea overturned a three-goal first-leg deficit against Napoli en route to winning their only Champions League

Two goals from Napoli's Ezequiel Lavezzi either side of an Edinson Cavani header cancelled out Juan Mata's early volley in a scintillating performance at the San Paulo Stadium that put the Italians firmly on course for the quarter-finals.

Two weeks later Roberto di Matteo had replaced Andre Villas-Boas as Chelsea's caretaker manager in a desperate attempt to galvanise the players and rescue the season.

It had the desired effect as Didier Drogba, John Terry and Frank Lampard all scored to take the tie to extra time at Stamford Bridge.

After Branislav Ivanovic's dramatic winner sent Chelsea through, Di Matteo said: "I've had some great nights but I think this will go down in the club's history."

He was right, as his Blues went on to win their first and only Champions League title - beating Bayern Munich on penalties at their own stadium.

2003-04 QF: Champions Milan crumble in Spain (1% in original vote)

Aggregate 5-4: AC Milan 4-1 Deportivo La Coruna/Deportivo 4-0 AC Milan

AC Milan playmaker Kaka during a quarter-final loss to Deportivo la Coruna
AC Milan playmaker Kaka lies on the grass in the 4-0 quarter-final defeat by Deportivo la Coruna in the 2003-04 Champions League

"Miracles often happen, things you might not rationally expect,"external-link Deportivo coach Javier Irureta said after his side were hammered 4-1 by reigning champions AC Milan in the first leg of their 2003-04 quarter-final.

His words were prophetic as a Milan side containing Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, Cafu, Clarence Seedorf, Andrea Pirlo, Kaka and Andriy Shevchenko were stunned in the second leg.

Deportivo produced a crushing display with goals from Walter Pandiani, Juan Valeron, Albert Luque and Gonzalo Fran sending the home fans into a frenzy.

A single goal from a Porto side managed by a young Jose Mourinho - who would go on to win the competition - deprived them of a place in the final.

1999-00 QF: Extra-time goals send Chelsea out in Barcelona (1% in original vote)

Aggregate 6-4: Chelsea 3-1 Barcelona/Barcelona 5-1 Chelsea

Barcelona's Patrick Kluivert celebrates his winner against Chelsea in 1999-00 Champions League quarter-final
Patrick Kluivert of Barcelona celebrates scoring the winner to eliminate Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the 1999-2000 Champions League at the Nou Camp

Chelsea fans were dreaming after eight glorious first-half minutes saw a trademark Gianfranco Zola free-kick and a Tore Andre Flo double give them a stunning 3-0 first-leg lead at Stamford Bridge and put a semi-final place in sight, before Luis Figo struck to give Barcelona the away goal they needed to take back to the Nou Camp.

Extra-time goals from Rivaldo and Patrick Kluivert in the second leg denied Chelsea a memorable victory. Barca would go on to lose to Valencia in the semis.

2016-17 last 16: Barcelona defy belief to shatter PSG (12% in original vote)

Aggregate 6-5: Paris St-Germain 4-0 Barcelona/Barcelona 6-1 Paris St-Germain

Sergi Roberto celebrates his winner against PSG to send Barcelona to the quarter-finals of the 2016-17 Champions League
Sergi Roberto celebrates Barcelona's sixth goal of the night to knock PSG out of the 2016-17 Champions League

The only time any side has overturned a four-goal aggregate lead.

Strikes from Angel di Maria (two), Julian Draxler and Edinson Cavani left Barcelona needing a miracle against Paris St-Germain to reach the quarter-finals.

What followed was nothing short of extraordinary.

Barcelona knew they had to go for it in the return leg and gave themselves a chance with three goals in the first 50 minutes at the Nou Camp. Cavani then struck for PSG to seemingly end the tie and leave their opponents needing three more goals to advance.

In the most incredible finale, Neymar scored in the 88th and 91st minute against his future employers before Sergi Roberto's 95th-minute winner completed a turnaround that had to be seen to be believed.

"Utter mayhem" and "deep, instinctive passion at its most authentic and unrefined" were seen by BBC Sport's Spanish football writer Andy West after the full-time whistle.

2018-19 last 16: Late VAR drama makes history in Paris (4% in original vote)

Aggregate 3-3: Man Utd 0-2 PSG/PSG 1-3 Man Utd - Man Utd win on away goals

Marcus Rashford scores an injury-time penalty to knock PSG out of this season's Champions League
Manchester United's Marcus Rashford scores a controversial penalty after VAR intervention to knock PSG out of this season's Champions League

A late penalty. VAR. A Neymar rant. This game had it all.

Manchester United were flying with 10 wins in 11 games after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had taken over as caretaker manager following the dismissal of Jose Mourinho and welcomed PSG with renewed optimism.

But they were outclassed by the French side at Old Trafford, with second-half goals from Presnel Kimpembe and Kylian Mbappe leaving them with the task of overturning a two-goal deficit away from home - a feat never achieved before. They would also need to do it without Paul Pogba, who had been sent off for two yellow cards.

Deep into injury time in the second leg, United led 2-1 on the night, following first-half goals from Romelu Lukaku (two) and PSG's Juan Bernat, but the hosts were set for a 3-2 aggregate win and a place in the quarter-finals. Then Diogo Dalot's shot deflected behind off Presnel Kimpembe for a corner.

Or so we thought.

After looking again at the incident using VAR, Slovenian referee Damir Skomina decided it had struck Kimpembe's arm and awarded United a controversial penalty to the astonishment of the home crowd. Marcus Rashford stepped up to drill the ball home and send his team through, shattering PSG's Champions League dream once again.

Neymar, who missed the game through injury, could not contain his anger at the decision. In a social media rage, he said: "It's a disgrace. Four guys who know nothing about football watch a slow-motion replay in front of the television."

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