The Champions League is back this Tuesday, and for three of the remaining eight teams, advancing to the next stage will require something truly extraordinary. While Inter`s 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich leaves their tie finely balanced, the other matchups seem to be heavily skewed after the first leg.
Aston Villa faces a two-goal deficit at home against Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid needs to overcome a three-goal disadvantage against Arsenal, and Borussia Dortmund, to eliminate Barcelona, would need to become only the second team in Champions League history to qualify after losing the first leg by four goals.
However, history shows that it is possible. From the legendary Deportivo La Coruna to Liverpool`s iconic comeback against Barcelona, the Champions League has witnessed numerous unexpected turnarounds. Three teams have already achieved what Real Madrid must do. If Aston Villa eliminates PSG, they would become the 10th team to overturn a two-goal deficit in a home leg. Let`s delve into Champions League history to find inspiration for this week`s underdogs:
1. Real Madrid Can Look to Deportivo`s Miracle
2003-04 Champions League Quarterfinal
First Leg: AC Milan 4 (Kaka 45` 49`, Shevchenko 46`, Pirlo 53`), Deportivo La Coruna 1 (Pandiani 11`)
Second Leg: Deportivo La Coruna 4 (Pandiani 5`, Valeron 35, Luque 44`, Fran 76`), AC Milan 0
AC Milan, boasting arguably the best defense of their era, arrived in Spain with a three-goal lead. Sound familiar? This mirrors Arsenal`s situation against Real Madrid. Milan`s defense, featuring Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta, was even more formidable than what Real Madrid will face. The reigning European champions had dominated the quarterfinals, conceding only five goals in nine Champions League games leading up to the second leg. Away from home, they were defensively impenetrable, having conceded no goals in the competition on the road.
Then, Walter Pandiani scored an early goal for Deportivo, igniting hope in the Riazor stadium. The atmosphere seemed to unsettle Milan. How else can one explain Cafu, Dida, and Maldini all misjudging the cross that allowed Juan Carlos Valeron to double Deportivo`s lead? Or Nesta`s misjudgment of a long ball that set up Albert Luque, turning a 4-1 first-leg deficit into a 4-4 tie where Deportivo led on away goals? A final goal from Fran secured Deportivo`s historic qualification to their first (and only) European semifinal.
Lessons for Real Madrid: An early goal is crucial. From the kickoff, Real Madrid must be a relentless force, displaying the “crazy buzz bombs flying around all over the place” energy that Andrea Pirlo attributed to Deportivo in his autobiography.
2. Aston Villa Needs to Unnerve PSG at Villa Park
2018-19 Champions League Semifinal
First Leg: Barcelona 3 (Suarez 26`, Messi 75` 82`), Liverpool 0
Second Leg: Liverpool 4 (Origi 7` 79`, Wijnaldum 54` 56`), Barcelona 0
Aston Villa`s task might seem daunting, but it pales in comparison to Liverpool`s challenge against Barcelona in the 2018-19 semifinals. A 3-0 defeat at Camp Nou and a weakened home lineup without Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino led even Jurgen Klopp to admit it was `impossible`… for anyone but them. Divock Origi`s early goal sparked a shift in momentum, and Barcelona began to show signs of nervousness.
To understand the context, recall the previous season when Barcelona held a 4-1 first-leg lead against Roma. Despite seeming to have secured the tie, Edin Dzeko`s inspired performance and Kostas Manolas` late header led to a historic Roma comeback. It was as if Barcelona, after their own remarkable comeback against PSG, were now destined to be on the receiving end.
Lionel Messi and his teammates visibly felt the pressure as Anfield roared Liverpool on. Georginio Wijnaldum`s quickfire brace leveled the tie, leaving Barcelona দিশেহারা (helpless). This disorientation was evident when 14-year-old ball boy Oakley Cannonier swiftly provided the ball to Trent Alexander-Arnold for a corner. Unnoticed, Alexander-Arnold delivered a quick, low corner into the six-yard box, where Origi scored the decisive goal, sending Liverpool to the final and eventually to Champions League glory.
Lessons for Aston Villa: A fervent home atmosphere is essential, and Villa Park is expected to be electric. More importantly, Villa needs to exploit any potential PSG nervousness. While this PSG team is different, the club has a history of faltering in crucial European moments. Could memories of 44 shots against Dortmund without scoring and Karim Benzema`s past demolition job resurface if things start poorly for PSG?
3. Borussia Dortmund Requires Forward Brilliance
2016-17 Champions League Round of 16
First Leg: Paris Saint-Germain 4 (Di Maria 18` 55`, Draxler 40`, Cavani 72`), Barcelona 0
Second Leg: Barcelona 6 (Suarez 3`, Kurzawa 40` o.g., Messi 50` pen., Neymar 88`, 90+1 pen., Roberto 90+5), Paris Saint-Germain 1 (Cavani 62`)
Only Barcelona has achieved the seemingly impossible in the 2016-17 Round of 16 against PSG. Angel Di Maria and Edinson Cavani had devastated Barcelona in the first leg, securing a 4-0 victory. But with Lionel Messi in their ranks, there was always a chance. When Barcelona surged to a 3-0 lead with 28 minutes remaining, just one more goal was needed to force extra time. However, a deep free-kick found Edinson Cavani, who scored a powerful volley. Barcelona now needed three goals in just over half an hour to advance.
The comeback wasn`t immediate. Barcelona withstood further pressure before Neymar took center stage. A stunning free-kick, a calmly converted penalty, and a perfect pass for Sergi Roberto to score the winner. In that moment, Neymar was arguably the best player in the world. That level of individual brilliance was crucial for La Remontada.
Lessons for Borussia Dortmund: Dortmund needs a prime Messi-level player, ideally paired with another world-class forward at their peak. While Dortmund might achieve a miracle at the Westfalenstadion, it`s unlikely to be through the sheer individual brilliance that fueled Barcelona`s historic comeback.
