Real Madrid: 10 Greatest UCL Comebacks of the Ancelotti-Zidane Era
Real Madrid’s improbable Champions League run this season continues. Courtesy of Rodrygo’s dramatic stoppage time double and a Karim Benzema penalty in extra time, Los Blancos survived another thrilling encounter to book their place in Paris for a chance at their 14th title. In appreciation of Madrid’s resilience and fight, here is a list of 10 of their great recent European nights.
- 24 May 2014. Real Madrid 4–1 Atletico Madrid (a.e.t.). Final.
While Los Merengues failed to win La Liga in Carlo Ancelotti’s first season in charge, they had a chance for revenge against Spanish kings Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final in Lisbon. The first half went poorly for Real as Diego Godin headed Atletico in front 36 minutes into the tie. Despite out-possessing and out-shooting their opponents, Real were still searching for an equalizer deep into stoppage time. Gareth Bale’s trifecta of misses looked set to haunt them until Sergio Ramos played savior 93 minutes into the tie. His goal from Modric’s cross kickstarted Madrid’s comeback, as they went on to add three more in extra time. Bale scored the winner after man of the match Di Maria’s excellent run, and Marcelo and Ronaldo’s late goals sealed a long-awaited La Decima triumph for Real.
2. 12 April 2016. Real Madrid 3–0 Wolfsburg. Quarterfinal — Second Leg.
After easing past Roma in the Round of 16, Real lost 2–0 to Wolsfburg in their quarterfinal first leg. With their season in jeopardy, the team needed a big result if they wanted to advance to the semis and turn the season’s tide.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the Magnificent Seven, scored twice in 90 seconds in the 15th and 17th minute to level the tie. As threatening as Wolfsburg looked, they were unable to pull a goal back before halftime.
Coming out of the break, Real were by far the superior side. Sergio Ramos hit the post and Benzema smashed one high. Ronaldo again was the man for the breakthrough: his free kick in the 77th minute crept through the wall and gave Madrid an aggregate lead they wouldn’t relinquish. His hat-trick earned him the man of the match as Madrid advanced to the semifinals that night. Ultimately, they beat Atletico in the final on penalties to earn Zidane his first UCL and the club’s second in three years. It was the dawn of Ronaldo’s time.
3. 15 Feb 2017. Real Madrid 3–1 Napoli. Round of 16 — First Leg.
Entering the season as defending champions and also leading La Liga, Madrid were strongly favored as their knockout rounds in 2016–17 kicked off against a tricky Napoli side. Lorenzo Insigne opened the scoring for the visitors with a goal in the eighth minute that caught Keylor Navas by surprise. But Madrid restored parity courtesy of a Benzema header, then Ronaldo assisted Kroos moments after halftime. A stunning volley from Casemiro from well outside the box capped off a great comeback and another fine European night. Another come-from-behind, 3–1 win in the second leg put Real in the quarterfinals as they looked to defend their title.
4. 18 April 2017. Real Madrid 4–2 Bayern Munich (a.e.t.). Quarterfinal — Second Leg.
In the first leg of this encounter in Munich, Arturo Vidal opened the scoring then blasted a controversial penalty over the bar. Cristiano Ronaldo’s double ensured Real Madrid escaped with a clutch 2–1 win and had a slender advantage come game time.
The second leg was as thrilling as any you’re likely to see. Bayern were led by former Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti and traded haymakers with Zidane’s side. The chances and drama came thick and fast. Controversies raged. Should Vidal have been sent off? Did Robben dive? Why wasn’t Casemiro shown a second yellow card? And how on earth was Ronaldo (twice!) not flagged for offside?
The best of the first half’s chances fell to Robben but Marcelo cleared off the line. Lewandowski opened the scoring from the spot in the 53rd minute, kicking off a frenetic fight. Bayern needed one more but Ronaldo, inevitably, levelled on the night. Moments later, though, it hardly mattered, as Sergio Ramos had put it in his own net and the tie was headed for extra time! Seven minutes later, in the 84th, Vidal received his second yellow for a challenge that looked all right. Down to 10 men, Bayern couldn’t find the dagger away goal as Ronaldo scored not once but twice. His five goals (two in extra time) were undoubtedly the difference across the two legs of the tie. Bayern were aggrieved at the officiating as replays suggested Ronaldo was offside. Marco Asensio wrapped up a dominant-looking win but make no mistake, this was a dogfight. Ronaldo scored another hat-trick against Atletico and two more in the final to secure Madrid’s twelfth title. Zidane enjoyed a well-earned cigar to celebrate Madrid’s first La Liga/Champions League double in a long time.
5. 14 Feb 2018. Real Madrid 3–1 PSG. Round of 16 — First Leg.
Paris Saint-Germain’s newly assembled trio of Neymar, Cavani, and Mbappe looked exceptional. Leading Ligue 1 virtually wire-to-wire, they were ripping opponents apart and building sumptuous chemistry leading up to this showpiece tie. Real’s La Decima was hard-won, their eleventh title sweet, and their twelfth, historic, but surely number 13 was not to be, right? No club had even come close to three in a row, and four in five years was simply ludicrous with the number of contenders on these Champions League nights. Well behind Barcelona in the league and having lost in the group stage to Spurs, Zinedine Zidane’s seat was as its hottest. PSG looked to deliver the final nail in his coffin that night.
Despite a goal from Adrien Rabiot in the 33rd minute, the first half was not a one-sided affair. Chances came at both ends and Ronaldo converted a penalty won by Toni Kroos just prior to halftime. Entering the second half, though, PSG seemed just fine.
Neymar began to dominate the game, it was only a matter of time. Mbappe missed a chance, Keylor Navas denied the man. Then in the 83rd minute, against the run of play, Madrid scored. Him again, it was always him. Ronaldo with his knee and moments later Marcelo made it 3–1 past Areola. Real Madrid out of nowhere had seized the tie. Los Merengues may have been outplayed, but Neymar and Mbappe would have to wait. This was Madrid’s night.
6. 11 April 2018. Real Madrid 1–3 Juventus. Quarterfinal — Second Leg.
Following their 5–2 aggregate triumph over Paris Saint-Germain, Real continued their pursuit of a third consecutive title against Serie A winners Juventus. Fresh off of defeat in the final last year, Juve were hungry and out for blood but seemed vanquished after a glorious bicycle kick from Ronaldo eight nights ago. Three goals ahead and heading back home, Real were in the driver’s seat and the second leg felt more like a formality than a fight.
But Max Allegri’s side did not go away. In the second minute Mandzukic scored, heading in a cross from Sami Khedira. In the 37th minute, he did it again, this time from a lovely ball from Lichsteiner. After Keylor Navas made an uncharacteristic mistake, Matuidi was in the right place at the right time. Juventus, in 60 minutes, had levelled on aggregate, and Madrid were now desperate, as another (away) goal would surely seal Juventus’s progress from the tie.
The Bernabeu was nervous. So nervous that you could start to hear the murmurs. “Is this how it ends?” Against Juve here?” You wouldn’t fault the players if a bit of doubt crept in. Asensio hit a free kick over the bar. Isco whacked one but there was Buffon. A goal would surely decide it but who would score it, at whose feet would the chance fall?
Kroos played a long ball toward Ronaldo in the third minute of stoppage time; he rose and knocked it down from the byline. Lucas Vasquez, six yards out, won a penalty. Juventus were furious but Benatia had come through the back of Vazquez and Buffon was sent off for his protest. Michael Oliver’s decision was by the letter of the law. Ronaldo stepped up and took a deep breath. His penalty was cold as ice. Cristiano Ronaldo had done it again. There was to be no fairytale, Juventus were out.
7. 1 May 2018. Real Madrid 2–2 Bayern Munich. Semifinal — Second Leg.
In the first leg of this semifinal (a rematch of the previous year’s quarterfinal, if you recall), Real had been outplayed by Bayern but had escaped with a 2–1 win thanks to some clinical finishing and a giveaway by Rafinha. Ribery had flickered but Navas had been clutch and kept Bayern’s winger at bay with some crucial stops.
The second leg saw Jupp Heynckes’s side get off to a fast start at the Bernabeu. It was Kimmich again, who opened the scoring in Munich, and Real, despite their away goals advantage, were on precarious ground. Benzema’s header calmed the nerves. Then, after halftime, a shocking blunder from Bayern’s goalkeeper Sven Ulreich allowed Benzema to tap in but James Rodriguez (on loan from Madrid) kept the tie alive. Somehow, Real negotiated an unbearably tense final 27 minutes and survived.
8. 9 March 2022. Real Madrid 3–1 PSG. Round of 16 — Second Leg.
Almost 4 years removed from their third straight Champions League title (courtesy of a Gareth Bale wondergoal and a pair of blunders by Loris Karius that night), Real Madrid are back in the final this season staring down a rematch with Klopp’s Liverpool side. But how did they get there? The final three entries trace the journey of Carlo Ancelotti’s new-look squad. Long gone is Cristiano Ronaldo, replaced by Vinicius Jr and the like. Rodrygo has been a savior, and while the midfield remains anchored by veterans Kroos and Modric, there are additional youngsters like Valverde and Camavinga who excite. The defense looks a little different, and Thibaut Courtois has become a familiar sight. But one man’s Renaissance has brought this club back to life: Karim Benzema, our talisman and long-standing number 9.
After Kylian Mbappe scored in the closing stages of the first leg of this year’s Round of 16, Madrid could count themselves lucky not to be further behind. Messi had missed a penalty after all and there was not much to suggest Madrid would come from behind. An Mbappe goal from a Neymar through ball looked to settle this tie in the first half of the Bernabeu. When he did it again in the 54th minute, it was surely over, but he was offside.
Then, out of nothing, Benzema had one back. Donnarumma had dithered and Benzema bodied him but there was no foul. Vinicius looked up. He fed the main man. Benzema scored and Madrid had a lifeline, they were only 2–1 down and not yet out.
Suddenly Real had grown into the game. Benzema and Vinicius looked out for blood. A splendid run from Modric picked Vinicius out. He waited for the support and found Modric again. A nutmeg pass found Benzema, and Madrid were ahead on the night, and level on aggregate, an outrageous double from Benzema putting pressure on the famed PSG front three to respond.
But they wouldn’t. PSG were rattled and Marquinhos gave it away from the kickoff. Benzema needed just one touch to knock them out. Football is a brutally simple sport. Goals win games, and Madrid were through, courtesy of a shocking second-half hat-trick from the ageless Karim Benzema.
9. 12 April 2022. Real Madrid 2–3 Chelsea (a.e.t.). Quarterfinal— Second Leg.
Benzema has spearheaded Real Madrid’s La Liga charge this season, recently helping them clinch their second domestic title in three years. In the Champions League, his blistering form continued from the Round of 16 into the quarterfinals, as he hit a clutch hat-trick inside 46 minutes at Stamford Bridge to give Real a 3–1 lead in the tie.
At the Bernabeu, however, Chelsea started brightly, affirming the contest was far from done. Mason Mount had one back 15 minutes in. Then Rudiger levelled on aggregate with 40 minutes left (excluding extra time).
Marcos Alonso looked to have given Chelsea the lead in the 62nd minute but it was chalked off by VAR for handball. Then Timo Werner scored in the 75th and as things stood, Real Madrid were heading out.
Out of nothing, again, Modric produced a sumptuous trivela to pick out the Rodrygo who forced extra time. Vinicius assisted Benzema again in the 96th minute and that was enough to send Real Madrid into the semifinals on this night.
10. 4 May 2022. Real Madrid 3–1 Man City (a.e.t.). Semifinal — Second Leg.
We are just two days removed from this final comeback, an extraordinary one that may just be the best of them all. Once again, it was Rodrygo at the death who scored not one but two goals to force extra time. And Benzema’s winner from the spot to secure an aggregate lead for the first time in the tie. Grealish should have finished it. Mendy cleared it off the line. Then Courtois’s toe kept another one out. Miracles happen on these Champions League nights. This team doesn’t know when it’s beaten, Liverpool will be hoping they find out.
Note: The 2021–22 UEFA Champions League Final will be played at the Stade de France on 28 May 2022 between Liverpool and Real Madrid. It is the first time the same two teams have met in three European Cup finals (1981, 2018).
