The Champions League is usually dominated by the same big names, with money and status often deciding who goes furthest. Still, every now and then, something unexpected happens and changes the mood of the whole competition. Underdog stories have a way of drawing people in, as teams push beyond what most thought they were capable of, with these moments going beyond simple results, often shifting how fans see the game at this level. Whether it is an unlikely run to the final by an underdog according to football betting odds or a comeback nobody saw coming, they tend to be remembered far more clearly than straightforward wins by Europe’s biggest sides.
AS Monaco’s 2004 Final Run
When AS Monaco began their campaign, few expected them to reach the final, let alone eliminate some of Europe’s strongest sides. Under Didier Deschamps, they played with freedom and intent, beating both Real Madrid and Chelsea along the way. Their attacking threat was what allowed them to stand out, playing freely, which brought in plenty of attention across Europe, despite not being able to lift the trophy themselves. The 2004 campaign was full of twists, seeing fellow underdogs Porto carve their name into Champions League history after putting 3 past the French side in Germany.
FC Porto’s 2004 Glory
Continuing with the 2004 campaign, FC Porto were not seen as likely winners at the start, despite having lifted the UEFA Cup the year before. Guided by José Mourinho, they combined organisation with belief, overcoming teams such as Manchester United on their way to the final. Their 3–0 victory over Monaco was decisive, with goals from Carlos Alberto, Deco and Dmitri Alenichev sealing one of the most surprising title wins in modern times.
Liverpool’s 2005 Miracle of Istanbul
The 2005 final is still spoken about with a sense of disbelief. Liverpool FC found themselves 3–0 down at half-time against AC Milan, seemingly out of the contest. With a massive boost often credited to captain Steven Gerrard, Liverpool managed to find the back of the net 3 times, taking the game to penalties and seeing incredible heroics from goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek. The scale of the comeback, as the weaker side by far, on a stage such as the Champions League final is why this moment has gone down in football history.
Chelsea’s Unlikely 2012 Triumph
Chelsea had entered the latter stages of the competition as underdogs, especially against the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich, considering their squad wasn’t the most decorated side in recent years. However, they stunned everyone by absorbing pressure and taking crucial chances in order to swing the tie in their favour. In the final, played in Munich, they managed to force penalties against a dominant Bayern Munich, where they secured the club’s first Champions League title in dramatic fashion, defying expectations at nearly every step.
Borussia Dortmund’s 2013 Surge
Borussia Dortmund were not considered favourites when the knockout rounds began, yet their energy and intensity carried them forward. Their semi-final against Real Madrid is what shocked most fans, with Robert Lewandowski scoring all 4 goals in the first leg. It was a performance that almost guaranteed their spot in the final, despite losing 2-0 in Madrid. They ended up facing off against rivals Bayern Munich in the final, missing out on the cup in a 2-1 defeat, with Arjen Robben sealing their fate in the 89th minute.
Roma’s Shock 2018 Comeback
Few gave AS Roma any chance after losing 4–1 in the first leg to FC Barcelona. The return match in Rome told a different story, as Roma produced a controlled and determined performance to win 3–0. That result was enough to send them through on away goals, completing one of the most unexpected turnarounds seen in the modern era of the competition.
Tottenham’s 2019 Ajax Comeback
During a campaign full of twists, Tottenham Hotspur produced one of their most incredible performances. They were trailing across both legs and were at risk of missing out on the final, meaning they needed to come up with something special in Amsterdam. Lucas Moura was at the centre of this, scoring a hat-trick that was completed with the final kick of the game, sending Spurs to Madrid to take on Liverpool.
Liverpool’s Stunning of Barcelona
Liverpool were never expected to recover from a 3-0 defeat away in Barcelona, especially with some massive names missing from the squad, including Mo Salah, who also saw Wijnaldum and Firmino drop to the bench through fitness. However, this did not faze Jurgen Klopp’s side, creating one of the most relentless performances to beat the Spanish side 4-0. The incredible energy from Wijnaldum off the bench and an intelligent corner taken quickly from Trent Alexander-Arnold caught Barcelona napping, sending Liverpool through to the final in Madrid, which they would go on to win 2-0.
