5 of the greatest Champions League Round of 16 upsets

1. APOEL Nicosia 1-1 Lyon: 2011-12

APOEL banked on their vociferous home support to beat Lyon

Clubs from Cyprus were traditionally associated with dismal showings in European tournaments but a change was sweeping Cypriot football towards the end of the 2000s. Anorthosis Famagusta had become the first Cypriot club to reach the Champions League Group stages in 2008-09, but it was their great rivals APOEL who would make history three years later by becoming the first club from the tiny nation to progress beyond the group stages.

Remarkably topping a group comprising of Porto and Zenit St Petersburg, APOEL were drawn to face French giants Lyon in the round of 16. A gritty showing in the first leg in France could not prevent a 1-0 reverse at the hands of Alexandre Lacazette and co, but APOEL were prepared to give their all in the return leg.

Lyon players were greeted with a huge banner at GSP Stadium that read - 'Feel the terror of Nicosia' and the stadium was a wave of orange to support the home side. Sure enough, Gustavo Manduca slotted home from close range after just nine minutes to even the score for the Cypriots.

The French side seemed unsettled amidst the hostile environment and despite a chaotic 30 minutes of extra time where APOEL found themselves reduced to ten men, Lyon couldn't find the breakthrough.

At the ensuing penalty shootouts, APOEL goalkeeper Dionisis Chiotis was the hero as he saved spot kicks from Lacazette and Michael Bastos. None of the APOEL players missed a penalty as the tie ended 4-3 to APOEL on shootouts.

The streets of Nicosia were marked with wild celebrations as the club that was founded inside a sweet shop some 90 years back became the first Cypriot club to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.