What are the biggest second-leg comebacks in UCL knockout round history?

Liverpool have the most work to do in the second leg of their Champions League tie against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabéu.

The second legs of the 2022-23 Champions League round of 16 ties are upon us. Fans of Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Porto, and especially Paris Saint-Germain, Eintracht Frankfurt, Club Brugge and even Liverpool, take note. You can still do this.

While those first three clubs suffered first leg defeats to Borussia Dortmund, Milan and Inter respectively, the fact that they have home games to come means they should have a certain degree of confidence when it comes to turning the tie around. For the latter three, who suffered first-leg defeats on home turf to Bayern Munich, Benfica and Real Madrid, history suggests that they’re going to find it tougher to progress to the quarter-finals…but it’s not impossible.

Does anyone fancy a two-goal victory for Club Brugge in Lisbon followed by an extra-time/penalty shootout win? Or Eintracht Frankfurt to achieve the same feat away to Napoli? How about Liverpool going one better than that at the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid?

How many clubs have overturned a first-leg home defeat in the Champions League knockout rounds?

In Champions League knockout round history, only five times have a team who lost the first leg at home been able to progress to the next round. Four have done it after a one-goal defeat in their own stadium:

What is the biggest away-leg comeback in Champions League knockout round history?

Only one team, however, has ever overturned a two-goal deficit in a second leg away from home: Manchester United. The Red Devils might have set other records elsewhere recently but they hold this particular one, defeating Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 at the Parc des Princes to go through to the quarter-finals in 2018-19 on away goals after a 2-0 loss at Old Trafford. Could Brugge join the club? Or maybe Eintracht Frankfurt?

Liverpool made history in their thrashing of bitter rivals United on Sunday and they will have to do so again against Real Madrid if they are to become the first team to overturn a three-goal home leg deficit and have any chance of reaching a second successive final and winning a second Champions League in four seasons.

What is biggest ever Champions League knockout round comeback?

While clubs have progressed after a two-goal defeat in an away first leg nine times (Barcelona twice, Chelsea twice, Monaco, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Juventus), only four teams have gone through to the next round having lost the away leg by three goals.

Club Brugge, Eintracht Frankfurt and Liverpool: pin this up on your locker room wall. All hope is not lost yet.

When are the 2022-23 Champions League round of 16 second legs?

All matches kick off at 3:00 p.m. ET.

Tuesday 7 March 2023

Wednesday 8 March 2023

Tuesday 14 March 2023

Wednesday 15 March 2023