FC Bayern Munich has to do something historic in its 282nd Champions League game. “We’re going full steam ahead, we still have a chance,” announced captain Thomas Müller, despite the extremely difficult starting position after the 0: 3 in the quarter-final first leg against Manchester City before the second game on Wednesday (9 p.m. / DAZN) in the Allianz Arena at.
There are a few role models in the history of football’s premier class:
2017
In the round of 16, FC Barcelona were the only team to come back from a four-goal deficit. The Catalans lost the first leg at Paris Saint-Germain 4-0. The unbelievable happened at Camp Nou: Barça won 6-1 with international Marc-André ter Stegen in goal. Sergi Roberto scored the decisive sixth goal for the Catalans deep in stoppage time. If the final score was 5-1, PSG would have progressed because of the away goals rule that was still in force at the time.
Even three-goal deficits were made up in the second leg in front of a home crowd:
2019
Liverpool fans have seen many great games at Anfield. But FC Barcelona was practically in the final after a 3-0 win in the first leg. However, Jurgen Klopp’s side pulled off the miracle after braces from Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum. Incidentally, today’s Bayern professional Sadio Mané was on the pitch for the full 90 minutes when the Reds made it 4-0. So the Senegalese knows how to do it.
2018
A year earlier, Barça had been caught in the quarter-finals against AS Roma. A 4-1 at home was followed by a 0-3 in Italy’s capital. Ex-Bundesliga professional Edin Džeko opened the Roman comeback, Daniele De Rossi and Kostas Manolas completed it.
2004
After a 4-1 draw at San Siro, AC Milan were knocked out by Deportivo La Coruña in the quarter-finals. The Spaniards were already leading 3-0 in the second leg at half-time. Substitute Fran González scored the acclaimed goal to make it 4-0.
There has not yet been a comeback after a three-goal deficit in Bavaria’s premier class history. The Munich side have often made up for defeats in knockout rounds at home, most recently in 2015 against FC Porto. A 1:3 in Portugal was followed by a rushing 6:1 in front of their home crowd. “Maybe something magical is possible,” said Müller, looking ahead to a much bigger task against Man City.
