Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

From European epics to World Cup classics - the greatest comebacks in history

talksport.com, yesterday at 09:00
Football fans love nothing more than an epic comeback, and there have been some incredible ones over the years.

Supporters have their favourites, of course, and think theirs have been the best - who can blame a bit of team bias?

There is nothing quite like seeing your own team make the comeback to end all comebacks.

But which are the best in history?

Well from European epics to World Cup classics, talkSPORT.com has put together THE definitive list to end the debate.

11. Liverpool vs Barcelona - Champions League 2019

Trailing 3-0 to Barcelona, Liverpool knew they would need to produce one of the greatest comebacks to reach the Champions League final in 2019.

Read more in Football

Newcastle's Alexander Isak bettered by just one player in Premier League striker rankings

Saka fourth, Haaland and Bellingham shine in list of football's most valuable young stars

They did just that at Anfield, with Divock Origi etching himself into Anfield folklore by scoring twice as they thrashed Barca 4-0.

Merseyside was rocking for this absolute classic, and who can forget the quick thinking of Trent Alexander-Arnold to take a quick corner that was turned in by Origi.

It was the first time since 1986 that a team had recovered from a three-goal deficit from the first leg in a European Cup game to reach the next round.

10. Charlton vs Huddersfield - 1957

This Second Division game in December 1957 goes down as one of the most bonkers games in football history.

Most read in Football

'He's romantic' - Coleen Rooney stuns campmate as she reveals cute Wayne Rooney gesture

West Ham sound out Champions League final manager amid rising pressure on Julen Lopetegui

Ally McCoist reveals he's been suffering from incurable condition

Newcastle star admits he was 'in a dark place' as he opens up on initial struggles

To set the scene, Charlton played most of the game with 10 men as Derek Ufton got injured - in the days before substitutes.

Huddersfield were leading 5-1 with just 27 minutes to go before suffering one of the most almighty collapses ever seen.

The Addicks' Johnny Summers began an extraordinary passage of play where he scored four, and assisted two more, to see the home side win 7-6.

Huddersfield remain the only team in English professional football history to score six goals and lose a game.

9. Angola vs Mali - Africa Cup of Nations 2010

Mali pulled off a stunning comeback in the first match of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, somehow drawing 4-4 after being four goals down.

Angola had been 4-0 up with just 11 minutes to go with many Mali fans already reportedly leaving the stadium.

They showed why you should never leave a ground early as a stunning passage of play saw them come back to draw.

Former Tottenham striker Freddy Kanoute was among the Mali goalscorers as they got the AFCON off to a bang.

8. Reading vs Arsenal - League Cup 2012

Reading cruised to a 4-0 lead in their League Cup match against the Gunners with a quarter-final place up for grabs.

Theo Walcott had reduced the deficit to 4-1 in added time of the first-half, but few gave Arsenal hope of turning things around.

Three second half goals then saw Arsene Wenger's side take the match to extra time, where remarkably another four goals were scored.

Arsenal went on to win 7-5 in the highest scoring match in League Cup history.

7. Portugal vs North Korea - World Cup 1966

You may not have expected to see North Korea on this list… but it's impossible to not include this match.

This quarter-final showdown, yes North Korea once made the World Cup quarter-finals, at Goodison Park was an absolute classic.

North Korea went 3-0 up midway through the first half in a complete shock.

The football icon Eusebio went on to score four to mastermind a 5-3 victory in a memorable comeback.

6. West Germany vs Hungary - World Cup 1954

The 1954 World Cup final was called 'The Miracle of Bern' for a reason.

Hungary were the huge favourites to win this match having beaten West Germany 8-3 in the group stages and went 2-0 up after eight minutes.

Hungary had also gone into the match 31 games unbeaten, so few saw the comeback that ensued.

West Germany went on to win 3-2, scoring the winner six minutes from time.

5. Newcastle vs Arsenal - Premier League 2011

The clash between Newcastle and Arsenal in 2011 at St James' Park remains one of the greatest games in Premier League history.

The Gunners went 4-0 up after just 26 minutes, before a red card for Abou Diaby completely changed the game.

Joey Barton scored penalties either side of a strike by Leon Best to bring Newcastle to within one goal of the visitors.

The best was saved for last, however, as Cheik Tiote launched a thunderous volley into the bottom corner with just three minutes to go to send St James' Park into mayhem.

4. Man United vs Bayern Munich - Champions League 1999

Both teams were playing for a historic treble in this dramatic Champions League final showdown in 1999.

Mario Basler had put Bayern 1-0 up early on and United left it late to make their comeback.

Teddy Sheringham scored in the first minute of added time in a goal that everyone thought would send the game to extra-time.

However, just two minutes later Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored a memorable winner at the Nou Camp in one of the most dramatic comebacks in football history.

3. Barcelona vs PSG - Champions League 2017

Paris Saint-Germain won the first leg of this Round of 16 clash to seemingly book their place in the quarter finals, barring a collapse.

That collapse did indeed come with Barcelona winning the second leg 6-1 at the Nou Camp.

They left it late to score the goals they needed, however, with Barca scoring three times in the final minutes of the match to make it 6-5 on aggregate.

At half-time, Barca boss Luis Enrique is reported to have said: "Boys, even if there are only five minutes left, you'll still be able to score three goals."

His prophecy turned out to be true.

2. Man City vs QPR - Premier League 2012

"Agueroooooooooo!"

Who can forget this epic finale to the 2011/12 Premier League season that saw Man City win the title.

City needed to win the game to beat rivals Manchester United to the title, but found themselves 2-1 down to QPR at the Etihad.

Edin Dzeke got an equaliser before the iconic Sergio Aguero winner in the 94th minute the the most dramatic finale to a Premier League season EVER!

1. Liverpool vs AC Milan - Champions League final 2005

Think greatest comebacks in football history and minds naturally turn to the Champions League final in 2005.

Liverpool were losing 3-0 in Istanbul to AC Milan and fans were seen leaving the stadium, unable to bear the misery any longer.

Read More on talkSPORT

I scored a hat-trick on full Arsenal debut despite partying until 6am at boozy FHM bash

'Bigger than the Super Bowl' - Paul's girlfriend posts tribute as $18m gate smashes record

A remarkable six minute spell in the second half saw Rafa Benitez's side score three goals, including that special Steven Gerrard strike.

They took the game to penalties where Liverpool's Jerzy Dudek was the hero to complete 'The Miracle of Istanbul'.

Top News

23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Arsenal have reportedly been handed a boost in the race to sign Brighton & Hove Albion forward Evan Ferguson. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane set a new Bundesliga record on Friday, eclipsing a feat previous held by Erling Haaland in the process. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both stuck inside Serie A's drop zone and facing a season-long scrap for survival, Venezia and Lecce will meet at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on Monday evening. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Trailing their visitors by one point in the Serie A standings, Empoli will attempt to leapfrog Udinese with a win at Stadio Castellani on Monday evening. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With all eyes fixed on the January transfer market, clubs around the UK and Europe are already lining up potential mid-season moves. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Eyupspor vs. Caykur Rizespor (Saturday, 10.30am) Eyupspor and Caykur Rizespor will kick off round 13 of the Turkish Super Lig when they go head-to-head at Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium on Saturday. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Go Ahead Eagles vs. Almere City (Saturday, 3.30pm) Two teams who could really do with a victory kick off round 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season as Go Ahead Eagles welcome Almere City to De Adelaarshorst on Saturday afternoon. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Valencia vs. Betis (Saturday, 1.00pm) Valencia will play their first game since the devastating DANA storm struck the region when they welcome Real Betis to Mestalla for Saturday's La Liga contest. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Hellas Verona vs. Inter Milan (Saturday, 2.00pm) One of six sides within two points of the Serie A summit, reigning champions Inter Milan continue their title defence on Saturday, when they visit Hellas Verona. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk B. Leverkusen vs. Heidenheim (Saturday, 2.30pm) Xabi Alonso will hope that his Bayer Leverkusen side can return to winning ways when they welcome strugglers Heidenheim to BayArena in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign on Saturday. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lens vs. Marseille (Saturday, 4.00pm) Saturday evening will see Lens welcome Marseille to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in one of the standout games in Ligue 1 this weekend. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Rangers vs. Dundee Utd (Saturday, 3.00pm) Rangers, aiming to build consistent form after a challenging start to the season, host Dundee United at Ibrox Stadium on Saturday in the Scottish Premiership. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Moreirense and Porto return to action in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal when they go head to head at the Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas on Sunday. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have supposedly shortlisted Sporting Lisbon and Uruguay wide man Maxi Araujo as a possible signing for 2025 to address their issues on the left-hand side. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Looking for what would be a first league win since September, Sparta Rotterdam and AZ Alkmaar will do battle at the Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel on Sunday afternoon. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk In-form sides NEC and FC Utrecht will be looking to keep their momentum going when they face off against each other at the Goffertstadion on Sunday afternoon. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fulham boss Marco Silva has revealed that Harrison Reed will have to undergo surgery to resolve a knee issue. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly identified RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba as a possible successor to William Saliba if the latter is lured to Real Madrid. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have supposedly earmarked Ipswich Town frontman Liam Delap as a possible transfer target for the summer of 2025. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool will not take risks by using players who are not necessarily at full fitness against Southampton such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reds expert David Lynch has claimed. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk In a match that could affect both the relegation battle and the race for European football, Borussia Monchengladbach are set to welcome St Pauli to Borussia-Park on Sunday in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Harry Kane continued his fine form this season to inspire Bayern Munich to victory on Friday night. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Holstein Kiel will hope to use their home crowd at Holstein-Stadion to spur them to victory against Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga on Sunday, as they continue their quest for survival. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Football fans will forever cherish the intense jubilation that comes with their team scoring a late winning goal. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides separated by one spot will go head-to-head in the Turkish Super Lig when Besiktas welcome Goztepe SK to Tupras Stadyumu on Sunday. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After seeing their seven-match unbeaten run in the Turkish Super Lig end, Samsunspor will hope to pick up the pieces when they welcome Alanyaspor to the Samsun 19 May Stadium on Sunday. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Trent Alexander-Arnold is a major doubt for Liverpool's visit to face Southampton this weekend. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Arsenal hope to have Bukayo Saka available when they face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League this weekend. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bournemouth will have the opportunity to set a new club record when they take on Brighton & Hove Albion in Saturday's Premier League contest. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Steven Gerrard has hailed the performances of Liverpool's academy graduate Curtis Jones this season.