4 greatest Manchester United comebacks in European football

New heroes have risen.
New heroes have risen.

The Champions League is one of the most prestigious football tournaments in the world and the most prestigious in Europe.

The tournament has been known by various names over the years. When introduced in 1955, it was known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or the European Cup. The competition took its modern name in 1992.

One thing that has remained the same over the years is this tournaments ability to produce shocks and surprises. Even a team that has no hopes of winning can spring a surprise or two on their day.

Manchester United is one of those clubs who are known as "comeback kings" for their late comebacks. Time and again, United has proved that they have the latent ability to churn out results when the back is against the wall.

Here are the 4 greatest comebacks the Red Devils have made in European football!


#4 1984 European Cup Winners' Cup quarter-final (second leg): Manchester United 3-0 Barcelona (3-2 on Aggregate)

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Manchester United's knack of making comebacks started long before Sir Alex Ferguson arrived at the club.

Barcelona with a certain Argentine named Diego Maradona in their ranks had won the first leg of this European Cup Winners' Cup quarter-final by two goals at the Camp Nou. Few gave United any chance to overturn the deficit in the second leg.

But the Red Devils proved all their critics wrong, winning the home tie by a comprehensive score of 3-0 and advanced to the semi-finals. Bryan Robson scored a brace and Frank Stapleton added a third to complete United's remarkable turnaround.

They really surprised everyone with their tenacity in the tie against one of the best teams at that point of time.

Manchester United would then go on to lose 3-2 on aggregate to Juventus in the semi-finals of the 1984 European Cup Winners' Cup.

A certain Scotsman also guided Aberdeen to the semi-finals of the same competition, where they faced against Porto in the other last-four clash.

#3 2019 Champions League Round of 16 (second leg): Paris Saint-Germain 1-3 Manchester United (3-3 on Aggregate)

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The latest chapter in Manchester United's long history book of making comebacks took place at the Parc des Princes last night.

Paris Saint-German, who comprehensively outplayed United in the first leg at Old Trafford were odds on favorite to progress to the next round.

Many tipped PSG to win the whole tournament but the Red Devils scripted another famous comeback win, just a day after Ajax upset Real Madrid.

The match started in the best possible way for United with Romelu Lukaku scoring in the second minute. Juan Bernat equalized in the 12th minute to maintain PSG's ascendency. Lukaku scored in the 30th minute to restore United's lead and more importantly, scored their second away goal.

When all hopes were lost, a speculative shot by Diego Dalot struck Presnel Kimpembe's hand. The referee first awarded a corner but later changed his decision after consulting with VAR and awarded a penalty.

Marcus Rashford stepped up to take the most pressure-ridden penalty in his career yet and duly buried the ball into the back of the net to spark wild celebrations by the players and the fans.

United won on away goals rule after the scoreline read 3-3.

#2 1999 Champions Semi-Final (second leg): Juventus 2-3 Manchester United (3-4 on aggregate)

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Some would argue that this match is Manchester United's most memorable comeback. Even greater than the match that followed.

Juventus completely dominated United at Old Trafford and led through Antonio Conte. Ryan Giggs scored an equalizer in injury time to keep them in the tie.

Juventus started the second leg in Turin in the best possible way. Filippo Inzaghi scored a quick brace in five minutes to give the Italians a two-nil lead on the night and 3-1 on aggregate.

However, captain Roy Keane scored in the 24th minute to keep the belief going for the Red Devils. United only needed to score one more without conceding to go through on away goals. Dwight Yorke scored the second on 34 minutes to put United ahead.

United survived wave after wave of attacks from Juventus. With the Italians looking for another goal, United hit on the counter to score the third goal of the night to go through to the final.

#1 1999 Champions League Final: Bayern Munich 1-2 Manchester United

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Not much of a shock to see this match as the number one in the list.

Bayern Munich were leading through a goal scored by Mario Basler in the sixth minute. The Bavarians were looking dangerous on the counter. Only the crossbar saved Manchester United from going 2-0 down after an overhead kick from Carsten Jancker.

Ferguson had introduced current United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer just a minute before that chance.

As the match went to injury time, Peter Schmeichel joined the attack during a corner. David Beckham put the ball into the box and after a deflected shot from Ryan Giggs, the ball found its way up to Teddy Sheringham who scored with a minute of injury time gone.

It looked like extra time was on its way, but 30 seconds after the restart, United got another corner. Beckham again had the corner duties. He swung the ball towards Sheringham who nodded the ball across the face of the goal and a certain super sub reacted the fastest to put the ball back into the net.

United had done the unthinkable. The Bayern players were distraught and the United players were overjoyed.

This match probably signifies United's tenacity the best than any other match in their history.

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