5 greatest comebacks by Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League

Cristiano Ronaldo has been involved in almost all of Real Madrid's recent Champions League wins
Cristiano Ronaldo has been involved in almost all of Real Madrid's recent Champions League wins

#3 Real Madrid vs Manchester City (2012/13 Group Stage)

Cristiano Ronaldo was yet again the hero for Real Madrid against Manchester City
Cristiano Ronaldo was yet again the hero for Real Madrid against Manchester City

In the same season as their Round of 16 comeback over the Red Devils, Real Madrid pulled off a heist against the other half of Manchester. In the first game of the group stage against the Cityzens, Jose Mourinho's men found themselves down to an Edin Dzeko strike in the 68th minute.

Left-back Marcelo soon equalised, but Aleksandar Kolarov's free-kick from distance missed everyone in the box to sneak in past Iker Casillas at the far post. With only 5 minutes of regular time to find an equaliser and a winner, Real Madrid turned to their Galacticos to produce the goods, and boy did they deliver.

Angel Di Maria danced past a couple of challenges to find Karim Benzema in a pocket of space, and the French striker turned smartly to caress the ball into the bottom right corner. With seconds left on the clock, Cristiano Ronaldo cut in onto his right from a tight angle and unleashed a shot that dipped wickedly in front of Joe Hart to bamboozle the City keeper.

Roberto Mancini stared on in disbelief, as Jose Mourinho pumped his fists towards the heavens in utter jubilation in what is one of the most iconic manager celebrations of all time.

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#2 Real Madrid vs Wolfsburg (2015/16 Quarter-Final)

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick in the second leg to overturn a 2-0 deficit at the Santiago Bernabeu
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick in the second leg to overturn a 2-0 deficit at the Santiago Bernabeu

When Real Madrid were drawn to face Wolfsburg in the 2015/16 Champions League quarter-final, most football fans had written the Bundesliga team off. But in the first leg at home, Wolfsburg pulled off a massive upset, with goals from Ricardo Rodriguez and Maximilian Arnold giving the Germans a 2-0 advantage to bring to the Spanish capital.

Before the second leg, talisman Cristiano Ronaldo announced to the world that Real Madrid will go through, but it seemed like a tall ask even for him.

"Tuesday will be perfect, it'll be a magical night; with your help the players will give the maximum on the pitch and we will go through to the next round. Hala Madrid!"

In the space of 90 seconds at the stroke of the quarter-hour mark, Ronaldo delivered. He first poked a Dani Carvajal cross that took a fortuitous deflection past Diego Benaglio, before powering a thumping far-post header from Toni Kroos' precise corner.

With the scores now level, Real Madrid asserted their control over the game until they won a free-kick with around quarter of an hour left to play. The Portuguese legend stepped up to take the set-piece, and found a gap in the wall to seal his hat-trick and the team's progression to the semi-final stage.

Zidane's men went on to win the Champions League final against Atletico Madrid on penalties, with none other than Cristiano Ronaldo dispatching the tournament-winning spot-kick.

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#1 Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid (2013/14 Final)

Sergio Ramos scored perhaps the most important goal in Real Madrid's history
Sergio Ramos scored perhaps the most important goal in Real Madrid's history

The 2013/14 Champions League final might just be Real Madrid's biggest win in history. Not only was it La Decima, their 10th Champions League crown, but it was also the win that paved the way for the European dominance that was to follow.

In the final, against that season's LaLiga champions and city rivals Atletico Madrid, Los Blancos were staring down the barrel after Diego Godin capitalised on captain Iker Casillas' mistake to put his team 1-0 up. Real Madrid struggled to break down Diego Simeone's resolute defense, with their usual approach of full-back-dominated crossing not bearing much fruit.

Cristiano Ronaldo couldn't impose himself on the game, while Gareth Bale was guilty of missing a couple of gilt-edged chances. With the minutes winding down on their European dream, centre-back Sergio Ramos rose high to head Luka Modric's corner past Thibaut Courtois in the Atleti goal in what is one of the most iconic moments in Champions League history.

Los Colchoneros' wind was taken out of their sails, and they crumbled in extra-time. Bale's header put Real Madrid ahead, before further goals from Marcelo and Ronaldo put the final past Atletico's reach.

Carlo Ancelotti brought home Europe's most prestigious trophy to the Bernabeu, while Real Madrid, led by his assistant coach Zidane, would go on to win three more Champions League trophies in the next four years.

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Also Read: 5 reasons why Real Madrid can beat Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16

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