Real Madrid’s Greatest UEFA Champions League Comebacks

Real Madrid have their backs against the wall following their 3-0 loss to Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal.

Travelling back to the Santiago Bernabeu, Los Blancos will need all but a miracle to progress to the next stage of the competition.

With some of the very best players in the world and a history of comebacks in the Champions League, Carlo Ancelotti’s side believe they can produce something special once again.

In this piece we take a look at some of Real Madrid’s unbelievable comebacks in competition.

Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City (2022)

Having lost the first leg 4-3 away from home, Real Madrid travelled back to Spain with more than a chance of progressing.

However, a strike from Riyad Mahrez in the 73rd minute stunned the crowd and left Madrid on the verge of exiting the competition. Manchester City dominated the contest from minute one and looked to have found the perfect game plan to knock out Los Blancos.

Rodrygo’s effort in the 90th minute levelled the scoring but seemed a little too late to save Real Madrid’s Champions League aspirations.

Having scored with Real Madrid’s first shot on target, Rodrygo would do the unthinkable just 90 seconds later. The Brazilian forward rose up in the Manchester City box, heading the ball into the back of the net to send the game to extra-time.

🗣️ Rodrygo: “Favorite goal? That one against Manchester City.” pic.twitter.com/mxzqXPF3fg
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) January 8, 2024

Two stoppage time goals had stunned the Manchester City supporters and given Madridistas a whole new outlook.

Karim Benzema completed the comeback from the penalty spot, following a foul in the area from Ruben Dias.

This was Real Madrid’s third but most impressive comeback of the Champions League campaign, having done similar against Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.

Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid

Two sides from the same nation battling it out for Europe’s ultimate glory is something that doesn’t happen very often, let alone the same City.

Real Madrid’s search for a tenth Champions League crown was put in jeopardy early into the fixture, as Diego Godin gave Atletico Madrid the lead.

Despite becoming the more dominant side as the match went on with Atletico on the back foot, it was now or never for Real Madrid. That’s when captain Sergio Ramos rescued the final for Los Blancos, equalising in the 93rd minute to send the game to extra time.

Sergio Ramos 🗣 "After the equaliser against Atletico in the Champions League final, I said 'I can die in peace'. It is the goal of my life." pic.twitter.com/j198iW8isb
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) March 29, 2020

Extra time was nothing like the defensive display seen from Diego Simone’s side in the opening 90, as Real Madrid scored three goals through Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo to seal the deal.

“The most important goal I have scored. It is an incredible feeling. We kept fighting until the end for the fans. It is not my goal, but one for all Madrid fans, my family and all those that have supported us until the end. We deserved it after so many years.” Said Ramos after the final whistle.

Real Madrid 3-1 Paris Saint-Germain (2022)

2022 was supposed to be the year PSG finally got over their UEFA Champions League hurdle.

Pairing Kylian Mbappe and Neymar with the newly acquired Lionel Messi was looked at as the final piece needed for the French side to win the competition for the first time in this history.

Having defeated Real Madrid 1-0 in the first leg, Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring at the Bernabeu to give PSG an even bigger lead over the tie.

With a comfortable lead, PSG managed to allow Real Madrid back into the game following a mistake from Donnarumma directly resulting in a goal for Benzema.

One year ago today, Real Madrid were 2-0 down on aggregate at HT against PSG in the last 16.

Then Karim Benzema stepped up with a clutch hat trick to kick-start a heroic run to the Champions League title 😤 pic.twitter.com/JqAxJkG9pP
— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 9, 2023

Real Madrid’s Frenchman wasn’t done there as he scored his second of the game, largely in thanks to Luka Modric’s play before completing a hat-trick from the penalty spot to send the Parisians home.

Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern Munich (2024)

Coming into the fixture with a scoreline of 2-2 everything was to play for Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in the semi-final second leg.

The German side took the lead through a stunning strike from Alphonso Davies just 22 minutes into the contest.

An affair that could have seen goals at even end of the pitch began to settle down with Bayern looking like the likely victors.

Thomas Tuchel’s decision to substitute Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala towards the end of the match raised eyebrows due to Madrid’s nature of comebacks.

With both Bayern Munich’s goal threats now off the pitch, Real Madrid knew a goal against Bayern in the closing stages could change the entire outcome of the game.

Substitute Joselu levelled the scoring just two minutes from stoppage time, following a mistake from Manuel Neuer. The Spanish striker would score again just minutes later to send Real Madrid to the final in added time.

Real Madrid down 3-2 on aggregate to Bayern:

88'—⚽ (Joselu)
90+2'—⚽ (Joselu)

Joselu, turns 35 today. 🎈 pic.twitter.com/8y6maMr9ZK
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) March 27, 2025

Bayern Munich came close to equalising once again but an error from both the referee and linesman, chalked off a perfectly fine goal from Matthijs De Ligt.

Real Madrid 2-3 Chelsea (2022)

A first-leg hat-trick from Karim Benzema meant Real Madrid would be returning home with a commanding 3-1 lead on aggregate against the Blues.

With Madrid expected to cruise into the next round of the competition, Chelsea had other ideas taking a commanding 3-0 lead at the Santiago Bernabeu to lead the tie. Goals from Mason Mount, Antonio Rudiger and Timo Werner left the Real Madrid faithful speechless.

With elimination staring them in the face, Luka Modric took things into his own hands to save Los Blancos. The veteran midfielder produced a moment of magic as an outside-of-the-boot pass led to an assist for substitute Rodrygo to get Madrid back in the tie.

🏁 FP: @realmadriden 2-3 @ChelseaFC (agg. 5-4)
⚽ @RodrygoGoes 80', @Benzema 96'; Mount 15', Rüdiger 51', Werner 75'#Emirates | #UCL pic.twitter.com/bRvIxGEfaH
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 12, 2022

Having made it to extra time, Real Madrid found their footing once again with Karim Benzema scoring his fourth goal in two-legs against Chelsea to secure an aggregate with for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, despite losing on the night.