Real Madrid's 5 most iconic Champions league comebacks in the 21st century.

 Real Madrid Club de Futbol. Los Bloncos. Los Merengues. It is often called the King's club. The history of Real Madrid is like no other club. 36 La Liga titles, 20 Copa Del Reys and an undisputed 15 Champions league titles. Many times what sticks out though, is not just the fact Real Madrid win trophies but the manner in which they do. It's so common that they have been characterized as the comeback kings.

They won the 2014 Champions league final in dramatic fashion and from that moment on, the ability to win after staring in the face of defeat has become an integral part of the club’s identity. There have been many famous European nights for the club in it's recent history but here are the 5 most iconic comebacks.

5) Real Madrid 3-2 Wolfsburg (on aggregate) – 2015/16 Champions League Quarter Finals

Wolsburg had stunned the Los Blancos at the Volkswagen Arena beating Real 2-0 thanks to goals from Maxmillian Arnold and Ricardo Rodriguez and were one game away from the Champions league Semi finals. Enter Cristiano Ronaldo.

In Madrid for the second leg, Los Blancos started on the front foot looking hungry for goals. They wouldn’t have to wait long, either, after Dani Carvajal’s scuffed cross somehow found its way to Cristiano Ronaldo who tapped it in. Only one minute later, Real won a corner and after Toni Kroos sent it up, with none other than Ronaldo scoring his second with a glancing header. Then in the 77th minute, the Spanish giants were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous spot. Cristiano Ronaldo, of course, stepped up to take it and after his traditional run-up, he sent a knuckleball through the wall and dipping into the bottom corner, out of the reach of Diego Benaglio in goal.

"Here, it's mythical," Ronaldo told UEFA afterwards. "At the Santiago Bernabeu, comebacks are always on everyone's lips. Madrid have produced many great comebacks in their history - and we've managed another one tonight. It was a perfect evening."

4) Real Madrid 3-2 Paris Saint-Germain (on aggregate) - 2021/22 Champions League Round of 16

Already 1-0 up from the first leg, PSG took complete control of the tie when Mbappe struck again just before the break at the Bernabeu. However as they often do so - they found a way to lose their minds. A Donnarumma error allowed Karim Benzema a simple tap-in. From there it was one way traffic. After Benzema scored his second, PSG were in freefall. Attempting to clear the ball, Marquinhos accidentally passed the ball right to Benzema who slotted it in for his hat trick and for Real’s third goal putting them ahead 3-2. It happened so fast that the cameras almost missed it as they were still showing the replays for Benzema’s last goal. Even after building a superteam, PSG had no answer to Real's elite mentality as they were dumped out in the round of 16.

Karim Benzema after scoring his third.

3) Real Madrid 6-3 Bayern Munich (on aggregate) – 2016/17 Champions League Quarterfinals

Madrid looked to have taken care of their quarter-final tie with Bayern Munich by scoring two away goals in the first leg at the Allianz Arena. However, they found themselves in all sorts of trouble at the Bernabeu. Although Ronaldo had cancelled out Robert Lewandowski's opener from the penalty spot, Bayern went back in front and levelled the tie on aggregate, thanks to an own goal from Sergio Ramos. With six minutes of normal time remaining, though, the visitors' Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal was surprisingly given a second yellow card by referee Viktor Kassai for a decent challenge on Marco Asensio.

Even after being reduced to 10 men, it appeared as if a brave Bayern side might force penalties, but, in the 115th minute, the officials made another massive mistake by failing to spot that Ronaldo was in an offside position when he put Madrid back in front on aggregate. With Bavarians' resistance finally broken, Madrid added two further goals, with Ronaldo completing his hat-trick and Asensio sealing a 4-2 win on the night. A bit of help from the officials but the Los Blancos again showed why they are the kings of Europe.

2) Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid – 2014 Champions League Final

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Out of all the comebacks on the list, this might be the most influential one. This is the comeback that propelled Real Madrid into the modern era. 12 years after the famous Zidane volley, they finally won their 10th Champions league title- The La Decima. Atletico had been hanging on in the closing stages of normal time, and then Sergio Ramos rose into the air. What happened next was incredible. 

Atletico Madrid came out for extra time with shattered morale. Madrid took full advantage, with Gareth Bale putting them ahead before Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo rubbed further salt in Atleti's wounds. Cristiano Ronaldo has promised the Madrid fans a Champions league and he delivered. Carlo Ancelotti did what many couldn't do including Jose Mourinho as Real secured a unprecedented 10th Champions league. 

Ramos scoring the equaliser in the final.

1) Real Madrid 6-5 Manchester City (on aggregate) – 2021/22 Champions League Semifinals 

The Greatest Real Madrid comeback of all time, The Los Blancos defied all odds and overcame City with a staggering 6-5 scoreline on aggregate. Already trailing 4-3 from the first leg of their semi-final against Manchester City at the Etihad, Madrid fell further behind when Riyad Mahrez slotted home in the 73rd minute of the return clash at the Bernabeu. 

However Real Madrid are never beaten. With a 5-3 aggregate lead and less than 30 seconds plus injury time left, all seemed set in stone for Man City, but then history was made. Rodrygo scored with the home side's first shot on target all evening. Just 90 seconds after his first goal, Rodrygo netted again, this time with a fantastic header to send the crowd wild and the game into extra-time. Unsurprisingly, a visibly stunned City never recovered and Karim Benzema scored from the spot to secure a ridiculously dramatic victory for Madrid.

By Parth Gokhale