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

talksport.com, 22 November 2024, 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.

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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.

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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.

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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'.

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