They say a three-goal deficit against Real Madrid means the real fight is only beginning. Tonight, Los Blancos stare at a 3-0 scoreline in their quarterfinal showdown with Arsenal. It’s a situation that feels dire, but Carlo Ancelotti’s side has built its European legacy on rewriting the script when all seems lost. This week, Jude Bellingham put it simply: “One place where crazy things happen is our house.”
He’s right. Step inside the Santiago Bernabéu on a Champions League night, and you sense an almost tangible belief that no gap is too wide. Ahead of what could be another astonishing evening, let’s revisit five of Real Madrid’s best comebacks in this competition.
Real Madrid 3-0 Wolfsburg, 2016 Quarterfinal
Cristiano Ronaldo had only one aim: rescue a 2-0 first-leg deficit and keep Madrid’s dream alive. In a span of 17 electric minutes, Ronaldo brought Wolfsburg crashing to earth with a brilliant hat-trick. He scored twice inside the opening quarter-hour to level the tie, then curled a low free kick through a gap in the wall to seal the 3-0 victory. Wolfsburg’s advantage vanished in a flash. Even then, Carlo Ancelotti famously said, “The Bernabéu has magic, and everyone knows it’s a special atmosphere.” He was proven right again that night.
Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern Munich, 2024 Semifinal
Just last year, Madrid found themselves inches from elimination. Alphonso Davies had put Bayern ahead in the second leg at the Bernabéu, and time was running out. But the stadium roared to life when Joselu slammed home a spilled save in the 88th minute. Then, in stoppage time, he finished off a neat move from Antonio Rüdiger to snatch a 2-1 win. Bayern left stunned, to say the least.
Real Madrid 3-1 Paris Saint-Germain, 2022 Round of 16
PSG’s superstars were cruising with a 2-0 aggregate lead. But Madrid’s unwavering spirit emerged in a moment of chaos when Gianluigi Donnarumma lost the ball under heavy pressure from Karim Benzema. That gift opened the floodgates. Soon after, Luka Modric carved through midfield, laid off a perfect pass, and Benzema slotted home again. Moments later, the Frenchman completed his hat-trick with a low shot into the corner. “We’ve had previous experiences of this, and it’s contagious,” Bellingham once said about Real’s history. That night, the Bernabéu crowd fed on that energy until PSG crumbled.
Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City, 2022 Semifinal
City were minutes away from the final. They led 1-0 on the night (5-3 on aggregate). On came Rodrygo, who conjured two goals in 90 frantic seconds. The first came in the 90th minute, a tap-in that suddenly brought hope. The second was a powerful header that echoed disbelief around the stadium. Thrown into extra time, City had no answer. A Benzema penalty sealed the 3-1 result, giving Madrid a 6-5 aggregate triumph. Carlo Ancelotti later noted, “Scoring early is an important part of the game, but the most important part for me is to have the control.”
Real Madrid 4-1 Atlético Madrid, 2014 Final
You could almost hear the thud of heartbreak from Atlético fans. It was 1-0 to Atleti deep into added time when Sergio Ramos leaped to head Luka Modric’s corner past Thibaut Courtois. That equalizer swung the match’s momentum in an instant. Extra time turned into a masterclass by Los Blancos. Gareth Bale struck the go-ahead goal, Marcelo added a third, and Cristiano Ronaldo converted a penalty for a 4-1 victory. Twelve years had passed since Real’s last Champions League title, making this comeback even sweeter.
Could Arsenal Be Next?
Real Madrid’s reputation for turning near-impossible scenarios into epic triumphs is unrivaled. Arsenal hold a 3-0 advantage, but if past nights are any measure, the Gunners know this second leg is far from over. Ancelotti, no stranger to late drama, insists his side just needs that first spark to revive belief. Bellingham has urged the crowd to expect something special. But this is also a new test for Mikel Arteta’s young squad. If they can weather the Bernabéu storm, they’ll walk away from Madrid as proven contenders for Europe’s grandest prize.
Tonight, though, is about whether the Champions League’s comeback kings can add another chapter to their story. History says they won’t stop believing until the final whistle. The only question is: Are we about to witness another unforgettable Madrid night?
