New Delhi: When you talk about sensational performances and the best “remontadas,” Real Madrid have done it all, specially in the Champions League. From last minute thrillers to perfect responses to going behind, Los Blancos certainly know how to go about their business and over the years we have witnessed some of the best ever comebacks from the record 15 times Champions League winners. Something similar lies ahead of them in this year’s Champions League where they helplessly find themselves 3-0 down against Arsenal, before heading into the second leg of quarter finals.
It was the brilliance of Declan Rice that allowed the inconsistent Gunners to take such a massive lead against the finest in Europe. Two unbelievable free-kicks and a fine strike from the “part-time striker” Mikel Merino sealed Madrid’s fate in the first leg at Emirates. However, many believe that this is well within the range of Don Carlo’s men as Santiago Bernebeu is a place where magical things do happen. If the scripters had to write this up then probably they would have favoured the Los Blancos considering their unbelievable history of comebacks in this competition, but in reality this is no easy task that is ahead of Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
“Anything can happen,” is what Carlo Ancelotti had to say after the first leg that saw his team getting destroyed 3-0. Nevertheless, they will need to do something they have only done once in Europe’s premier tournament when they play Arsenal on Wednesday: overcome a 3-0 first-leg deficit. However, only time will tell what’s to come but is it really possible for the 15-time champions to pave their way to a comeback and create history?
Rio Ferdinand: “Listen, I think Arsenal go through, I think they’ve got too much, I think the Madrid team looked a bit disjoined the other day, the balance in the squad and the team ain’t been right, they’ve been conceding goals left, right and centre.”
“[Bukayo] Saka coming… pic.twitter.com/PUcThQVwlh
— Gunners (@Gunnersc0m) April 15, 2025
Can it really happen for the comeback kings?
Real Madrid have rallied to advance to the next round three times in the last four Champions League games where they have fallen down after the first leg: against Wolfsburg in 2015–16 and against Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City in 2021–22. However, the fact that this is the joint-largest deficit Madrid has ever trailed going into a Champions League second leg gives Arsenal hope.
The previous time they had to accomplish this was in the 2012–13 semi-final against Borussia Dortmund, where Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick to help Jurgen Klopp’s team win 4–1 in Germany. Dortmund advanced to the final on aggregate, but Real Madrid won the rematch 2-0 in Madrid.
In fact, they only overcame a three-goal deficit after a first leg once, in the European Cup last 16 against Derby County in the 1975–76 season, won 6–5 on aggregate after losing 4–1 at the Baseball Ground. Only four times since the European Cup was renamed the Champions League in 1992 has a deficit of three goals or more been overcome.
Other ‘remontadas’ that could inspire the Los Blancos
In the second leg of their 2018–19 semi-final at Anfield, Liverpool were behind 3-0 against Barcelona. However, they scored four goals in a row to go to the final. The only other clubs to have recovered from a three-goal deficit following a first leg in the Champions League history are Deportivo La Coruna against AC Milan in 2004 and Roma against Barcelona in 2018. However, Barcelona defeated PSG 6-1 at the Nou Camp in the match known as “La Remontada” in 2016–17, overturning a four-goal deficit.
Arsenal have an 89.7% chance of making it to the semi-finals, according to statistics firm Opta, whereas Real Madrid have dropped five games this season, which is a club record.
“Every single time Madrid did a miracle, the preview said it is not possible,” said Guillem Balague on the EuroLeagues podcast. However, he also mentioned that On this occasion, you are discussing a team that lacks midfield architecture and rhythms, as well as poor defence. As usual, they rely heavily on the individuals. They lack the ability to respond to such a massive deficit.
But what about Arsenal?
No doubt that we have witnessed some unimagineable things happen at Santiago Bernebeu but here we are talking about an Arsenal side that may have been extremely inconsistent this season, but they look too determined to let this opportunity to slip out of their hands. This Arsenal side has a lot to prove.
Arsenal’s victory was the 12th time an English team has won by three goals or more in the first leg, and each time the English team advanced to the next round. When leading after the first leg of a Champions League knockout match, the Gunners have also performed well; they have advanced from six of the eight games in which they have won the first leg.
In addition, they have two victories and a draw versus Real Madrid in European competition, and they have not given up a goal in their three encounters. It will be interesting to see how this game pans out and if Arsenal can truly hold the heavy attack that will be releashed by Don Carlo’s side.
Real Madrid have a massive task ahead and they are on a hunt to complete one of the most iconic remontadas in the history of Champions League against Arsenal. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
