Season of Comebacks - Champions League 2018-19

Life can be cruel sometimes especially in football. We witness some greatest come backs in the history of champions league including Liverpool comeback over Milan in UCL final 2004-05 when Milan took 3 goals lead in the first half and Liverpool scored 3 goals in 7 minutes in the start of second half to equalize and went on to win the final on penalties. Manchester united's comeback over Bayern Munich in the final of 1999 champions league season is considered to be one of the greatest comebacks when Bayern were 1 goal up till 90th minute.  Two substitutes scored two goals in 91st and 93rd minute to leave the Germans heart broken.

 However, Champions league season 2018-19 might be the best season in terms of come backs. Lets have a look on the greatest comebacks this season.

Ajax 5-3 Real Madrid ( Round of 16)

Real Madrid were considered to be among the favorites this season. They flew to Johan Cruijff Arena for the first leg and took a huge advantage of 2 precious away goals compared to 1 goal for the home team. Ajax had to play second leg in Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in front of over 77000 spectators. Have you ever thought of Ajax winning over Reining Champion ? But what a game it was, Ajax outclasses RM by 4 goals to 1 and went on to win the tie on opponents' soil. Final score Real Madrid  3-5 Ajax. This was the first shock of the season.

Real Madrid were the first reigning Champions League winner to fail to qualify for Quarter Final stage since Chelsea in 2012-2013 ( knocked out on group stage). 

Atletico Madrid 2- 3 Juventus ( Round of 16)

Old Lady were the most favourite team to win this Champions league after signing Cristiano Ronaldo from Madrid with record club fee. They had to face the ferocious Diego Simeone's team in round of 16. At. Madrid took 2 goals lead at home. Juventus star and record 5 times Champions league winner Cristiano Ronaldo was mocked by the home supporters, team and even manager after the first leg.

This was the biggest test for the Portugese skipper to show his worth. Second leg was played on home ground of Old Lady and only one away goal for the visiting side could be a disaster for Juventus. What happened then? You could easily see CR7 all over the field passing, creating chances and scoring goals. CR7 scored the historic 51st hat-trick of his career. Juventus made a classical come back to reach to the quarter final leaving the world schocked. 

Paris Saint Germain 3-3 Manchester United ( Round of 16 )

French League winner signed Neymar for a world record transfer fee of 222M Euros to strengthen the squad couple of years back and considered to be among favorites to win this season's champions league title. First leg was played at Old trafford. PSG totally outclassed the home team and win the first leg with 2 goals to zero. Manchester united even couldn't manage one shot on target in the first leg. Second leg was played on PSG's home Le Parc des Princes. No team in the history of champions league won the tie after losing 2-0 at home in the first leg. Could you imagine a team winning on opponent's soil who is unable to make a single shot on target at home? 

Romelu Lukaku scored 2 goals in the first half to remain in the tie. PSG scored the only goal of the match in 12th minute. on 94th minute penalty decision through VAR for Manchester united was a heart broken moment for the home team. Marcus Rushford scored the decisive goal to made history. Mighty PSG were beaten on away goals and left empty handed.

Roma 3-4 Porto ( Round of 16) 

First leg was played at home ground of Roma. Italian club dominated the first leg and scored two goals  in the first leg. Porto scored an important away goal in 80th minute. Final score for the first leg was Roma 2-1 Porto. Second leg was played at Estadio do Dragao on the home ground of Portuguese giants Porto. Porto dominted the whole match with 60 percent possession and had total 23 shots on/off target. Porto took the match to extra time with an aggregate score of 3-3. Referee awarded a penalty to home team when Alessandro Florenzi pulls Fernando Santos by the shirt and the referee awards a spot kick.  Alex Telles scored on penalty to take Porto to the quarter final. 

Juventus 2-3 Ajax  ( Quarter Final ) 

First leg between Ajax and Old Lady was played at Amsterdam Arena. Juventus took lead at the end of the first half through cristiano Ronaldo however Ajax gave  quick reply and equalized in the very next minute. Juventus went back home with 1 away goal advantage.

After a successful comeback and hat-trick by star performance by Cristiano Ronaldo over Atletico Madrid, Football pundits almost had ruled out young Ajax side out of this tie. Juventus took lead again in the second leg through Cristiano Roanldo in 28th minute. However, Donny van de Beek equalized the score 6 minutes later. Both teams were playing on level terms. Moment of shock came in 67th minute when Ajax 19 years old skipper Matthijs de Ligt scored second away goal to take lead again. Juve needed 2 goals to survive in the Champions league but they couldn't. Ajax young lads had knocked another title contender out of Champions League. 

Liverpool 4-3 Barcelona ( First Semi Final )

First semi final was played between mighty Catalans and English giants Liverpool. First leg was played at Camp Nou. Spanish League leaders took an early lead through Suarez' opening goal in 26th minute. Mo Salah and Sadio Mane couldn't make a significant impact in the first leg. Thanks to Lionel Messi for his 2 late goals in 75th and 82nd minute for take a huge lead of 3 goals in the first leg. It seemed almost impossible for the Reds without Injured Mo Salah and star striker Firminho. 

Arsenal former manager Arsene Wenger said before the second leg:- 

" Anfield is the only place you don't want to go to for the return leg"

Messi and co only needed one away goal to cease the tie. Liverpool had mount Everest to climb. Liverpool took an early lead through  Divock Origi when he scored When Ter Stegen could not hold a shot by skipper Henderson and Origi made an easy tap in. However, Catalans kept on attacking the opponent's goal. Thank to Allison for his wonderful two saves in the first half to keep the tie alive. Liverpool started the second half with more positive attitude and didnt spare Barcelona Goal Keeper Ter Stegen.

 Georginio Wijnaldum took charge with positive movement into the opponent's box. He scored 2 goals in a blink of an eye in 54th and 56th minutes to level the score. Then moment of brilliance came in 79th minute when Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool swings in the corner from the right and Divock Origi scored the winner with a tap in. What a cheeky pass it was. Liverpool knocked barcelona and Messi out of champions league with one of the greatest comeback in the Champions league history. 

Moment of Brilliance

Ajax 3-3 Tottenham Hotspurs ( Second Semi Final ) 

Spurs played the first leg of second semi final of Champions league 2018-19 at their newly built stadium. Spurs went on to the semi final without their star striker and skipper Harry Kane who got an ankle injury last month. Ajax went to Tottenham stadium with high morale after defeating mighty Real madrid in round of 16 and Old lady in the quarter finals. Ajax showed an outstanding display of football and took an early lead in 16th minute through Donny van de Beek that lasts till the end of the match. Ajax went back home with their heads held high taking one crucial away goal. 

Second leg was played at Amsterdam stadium last night.  Matthijs de Ligt given Ajax an early lead through header in the 5th minute of the first half . Hakim Ziyech scored second goal of the match taking the lead to 3-0 and almost securing their place in the final. Spurs started playing more attacking football in the second half. Lucas moura scored two quick goals in 54th and 59th minutes of the match to bring spurs hopes alive. 

Suddenly the momentum changed towards Ajax goal. Pochetinho's side pressed the Ajax to keep the pressure on home team. Ajax has almost made their way to the final of champions league. But in 96th minute poor play by Matthijs de Ligt as his weak attempt to clear the ball puts his side under pressure, Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur passes the ball to a Lucas Moura who finished to complete his hat-trick and took Spurs to Champions league Final. Heart Broken for Ajax team and fans. They lost the match but won the hearts of all football fans around the Globe. 

Conclusion:- 

We are have all English final after 11 years. Last Champions league was played between two English teams was 2007-08 between Chelsea and Manchester United. Which Manchester United won on penalties. Myths can't be true but has some facts inside them. My conclusion for this season of comebacks is whichever team will score first in the Champions league final will end up as Runners-up :D