The two sides entering the Metropolitano Stadium on June 1 can legitimately be pinned up against some of the great European sides witnessed during the competition’s rich history.
Ahead of this blockbuster encounter between Tottenham and Liverpool we’re running a series on Europe’s elite competition called the ‘Best Ever…’ and on this occasion we’re examining the greatest comebacks to have graced the tournament.
Trimming the list down to five is an enormously tricky task and any one of the five picked hold claim to top spot.
But here is our look at the five best European Cup/Champions League comebacks.
1. LIVERPOOL V AC MILAN
Champions League Final, 2005
Jerzy Dudek saves miraculous save against Andriy Shevchenko
For 45 minutes in the 2005 final, AC Milan had completely outclassed Liverpool. Paolo Maldini’s opener and a classy brace from Hernan Crespo sent the Italian giants into the break with a seemingly unassailable 3-0 lead.
What followed was the most iconic revival of the competition’s or Liverpool’s history as they scored three goals in six minutes. Steven Gerrard’s superb header in the 54th minute began the fight back.
The way he motioned to the Liverpool fans in the crowd suggested something special was playing out in Istanbul. Vladimir Smicer’s strike from distance two minutes later confirmed it.
Gerrard then won a penalty and though Xabi Alonso’s effort from the spot was initially saved by Dida, he made no mistake from the rebound to draw his side level.
The Reds clung on for the remaining 30 minutes of regulation time and a further half an hour of extra-time before Jerzy Dudek starred in the penalty shootout. The Pole denied Andrea Pirlo and Andriy Shevchenko to win it for Liverpool.
2. MANCHESTER UNITED V BAYERN MUNICH
Champions League Final, 1999
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s iconic celebration
This comeback is held in such high regard for sheer shock value more than anything else. It was only a one-goal deficit for Sir Alex Ferguson’s incredible 1998-99 Manchester United side to turn around.
But into injury-time in the Champions League final during which they were second-best to Bayern Munich, surely even this never-say-die group of competitors didn’t stand a chance?
David Beckham’s corner in the 91st minute was cleared only as far as Ryan Giggs’ on the edge of the box whose shot was turned into the net by substitute Teddy Sheringham to equalise.
Remarkably, Sheringham got on the end of another Beckham corner moments later, flicking it on to the back post where fellow substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stabbed it home to complete an incredible recovery with virtually the last kick of the game, winning the treble in the process.
3. BARCELONA V PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
Round of 16, 2017
Lionel Messi celebrates
A second-leg revival of this magnitude had never been completed before. After a humiliating 4-0 defeat away to Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona roared back with a 6-1 victory in the second leg of the last-16 tie, winning 6-5 on aggregate.
The amazing scenes at Camp Nou that night produced the iconic image of Lionel Messi towering above adoring fans with his fist raised to the skies in celebration.
The picture splashed front pages the following morning but Neymar was the hero who came to their rescue. Goals from Luis Suarez and Messi sandwiched an own goal by Layvin Kurzawa before Edinson Cavani’s strike seemed to extinguish hopes of a comeback.
With 87 minutes played though, Neymar’s quick-fire brace set up a grandstand finish before Sergi Roberto netted in the fifth minute of injury time to send the home fans into ecstasy.
4. ROMA V BARCELONA
Quarter-finals, 2018
Kostas Manolas wheels away after his winner
Just a year on from their incredible comeback against PSG, Barcelona were given a taste of their own medicine. At the quarter-finals stage this time, the Catalans secured a 4-1 first-leg victory courtesy of own goals from Daniele De Rossi and Kostas Manolas before Gerard Pique and Luis Suarez got on the scoresheet as well.
Edin Dzeko’s away goal though would prove to be all-important. The Bosnian sparked the comeback in the return leg at the Stadio Olimpico six minutes into proceedings and won the penalty early in the second half that De Rossi converted.
Then, the other own-goal-scorer from the first leg popped up to complete a phenomenal night for the Giallorossi. Manolas’ glancing header at the near post from a corner eight minutes from time put the hosts 3-0 up, levelling the tie at 4-4 on aggregate.
There were a couple of hearts-in-mouths moments at the death but the Italian outfit held on to progress on away goals.
5. DEPORTIVO LA CORUNA V AC MILAN
Quarter-finals, 2004
Depor celebrate
Deportivo were one of Spain’s top sides 15 years ago but their decline was just beginning and they were dismantled over the course of eight minutes in the first leg of the 2003/04 quarter-finals at the San Siro.
After Walter Pandiani opened the scoring, a brace from Kaka and goals from Andriy Shevchenko and Andrea Pirlo secured a 4-1 win for the hosts.
The return leg in Spain though saw holders Milan stunned. Again, Pandiani opened the scoring before a header from Juan Carlos Valeron and a strike from Albert Luque dragged them level on aggregate heading into the break, set to progress on away goals.
Then, 14 minutes from time, substitute Gonzalez Fran’s deflected effort sealed the victory for the La Liga outfit as they progressed 5-4 on aggregate.
