{"id":38611,"date":"2025-05-07T13:52:17","date_gmt":"2025-05-07T03:52:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/?p=38611"},"modified":"2025-05-07T13:51:09","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T03:51:09","slug":"classic-champions-league-ties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/2025\/05\/classic-champions-league-ties\/","title":{"rendered":"Classic Champions League Ties"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The biggest and best club football competition in the world has delivered yet again with an all time classic Champions League Semi Final between Inter and Barcelona<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Going in locked-up at 3-3 on aggregate, Barca were down 2-0 in the second.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inter looked in control but a stunning comeback of three unanswered goals put the Catalans side ahead with just three minutes remaining. It looked done and dusted. Then it turned.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">37 year old Francesco Acerbi slots one with moments remaining in stoppage forcing an unlikely extra time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Then it was all she wrote after Davide Frattesi scored the decisive goal for Inter with Goalkeeper Yann Sommer&#8217;s crucial late saves instrumental in Inter&#8217;s progression to the final.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1919861392204533984&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F05%2Fclassic-champions-league-ties%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h5><strong>2022 Semi Final \u2013 Manchesy City v Real Madrid<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>For all money, City were home, they lead 1-0 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate heading into the 90<sup>th<\/sup> minute of play in the Bernabeu.<\/p>\n<p>Up stepped Rodrygo with a quickfire brace to send the tie to extra time before Karim Benzema completed the comeback with a penalty to send Real Madrid to Paris later this month.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1521966872198934528&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F05%2Fclassic-champions-league-ties%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s the latest in a long line of memorable knockout ties from this millennium alone as the biggest clubs in Europe face off to be called champions.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>2020 Quarter Final \u2013 PSG v Atalanta<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Played out over 90 minutes in an empty Estadio da Luz in Lisbon because of the pandemic, the bizarre circumstances of this fixture shouldn\u2019t detract from a properly bonkers match.<\/p>\n<p>The Cinderella run of Atalanta was brought to a crunching halt in about 180 seconds, with the Italian side thinking they were home 1-0 approaching the 90<sup>th<\/sup> minute.<\/p>\n<p>With no sense of occasion or appreciation for the story, PSG scored through Marquinhos and Choupo-Moting to advance to the semis in dramatic fashion.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1293656499789549569&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F05%2Fclassic-champions-league-ties%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h5><strong>2020 Round of 16 \u2013 Atletico Madrid v Liverpool<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Despite the other distractions going on outside of Anfield in March 2020, Atletico knocked out then European champions Liverpool in exciting fashion.<\/p>\n<p>Holding a 1-0 lead from the first leg, Gini Wijnaldum\u2019s 43<sup>rd<\/sup> minute goal levelled the tie and resulted in extra time.<\/p>\n<p>Roberto Firmino sent the home crowd into raptures in the opening bonus period before Fernando Llorente and Alvaro Morata scored to send the Spanish side to the quarters.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1502316113912340486&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F05%2Fclassic-champions-league-ties%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h5><strong>2019 \u2013 Pretty Much the Entire Knockout Phase<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>The 2019 knockout phase may go down as the best edition of the Champions League in history with classic games coming thick and fast (although it did conclude with one of the most dour finals on record).<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s start with the Round of 16 and the heavyweight battle between Atletico Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo.<\/p>\n<p>It was a vintage performance from the Portuguese marksman with a second leg hat-trick including an 86<sup>th<\/sup> minute penalty to eliminate Atletico.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1361707653446184961&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F05%2Fclassic-champions-league-ties%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>PSG lead their Round of 16 tie 2-0 heading back to Paris and were advancing 3-2 on aggregate\u2026 until the 94<sup>th<\/sup> minute of the second leg.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1361707675554353158&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F05%2Fclassic-champions-league-ties%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>And surely plucky Ajax couldn\u2019t turn around a 2-1 deficit at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid after the Spanish heavyweights won in Amsterdam.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1500092095062753285&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F05%2Fclassic-champions-league-ties%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Then came the quarter finals where Ronaldo\u2019s magic wasn\u2019t enough to save Juventus on their trip to Amsterdam.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1374791913463816201&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F05%2Fclassic-champions-league-ties%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>De Ligt was so impressive over two legs, Juventus decided they had to sign him in the next available window.<\/p>\n<p>Spurs took the first leg of their quarter final 1-0 and their plans to defend the lead were blown out of the water after 4 minutes.<\/p>\n<p>Cue absolute chaos in Manchester.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1383431905308135432&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F05%2Fclassic-champions-league-ties%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>City thought they had pinched it with a goal to Sterling in stoppage time but VAR intervened and City\u2019s hearts were broken, not that it mattered to Spurs fans who were too busy celebrating.<\/p>\n<p>Both Champions League Semi Final ties were fantastic advertisements for the competition, starting with Barcelona taking on Liverpool.<\/p>\n<p>The only reason Liverpool were given a chance to overcome a 3-0 deficit at Anfield in the second leg is because this season had proved that anything was possible.<\/p>\n<p>Say the words \u201ccorner taken quickly\u2026\u201d to any Liverpool fan and they can\u2019t help but smile at the memory of their fourth goal.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1390599782582870023&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F05%2Fclassic-champions-league-ties%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>In the other semi final, the real battle was between the two clubs looking to claim underdog status in the eyes of the neutral.<\/p>\n<p>Ajax thought they were home, up 3-0 on aggregate with 40 minutes remaining, enter Lucas Moura.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1391033674485878786&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F05%2Fclassic-champions-league-ties%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h5><strong>2018 Quarter Finals \u2013 Real Madrid v Juventus <\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Ronaldo\u2019s final Champions League run with Juventus was kept alive by a late, controversial penalty to eliminate Juventus, right as it looked like Real were going to blow a 3-0 lead from the first leg.<\/p>\n<p>It also featured this bicycle kick from Ronaldo in the first leg.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1241008215095152641&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F05%2Fclassic-champions-league-ties%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h5><strong>2018 Quarter Final \u2013 Roma v Barcelona<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Who would have thought Eden Dzeko\u2019s garbage time goal in the first leg would have been so valuable.<\/p>\n<p>Barcelona were up 4-1 after the Camp Nou and the second leg was probably an afterthought for many viewers, at least until Danielle De Rossi made it 4-3 on aggregate with half an hour to go.<\/p>\n<p>Then, cue delirium.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1248679822878035968&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F05%2Fclassic-champions-league-ties%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h5><strong>2017 Quarter Final \u2013 Barcelona v PSG<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Humiliated 4-0 in Paris in the first leg, Barca were just playing for pride at home and to make the final score a bit more respectable\u2026 right?<\/p>\n<p>Or not.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/brfootball\/status\/1361460805359849482?s=20&#038;t=pJavA4dOfNiTi1-bzO9eZg<\/p>\n<h5><strong>2017 Round of 16 \u2013 Manchester City v Monaco<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>A wild 5-3 first leg won by City was followed up where Kylian Mbappe introduced himself to the world.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1387441591724486660&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F05%2Fclassic-champions-league-ties%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>City couldn\u2019t hold on in the second leg, going down 3-1 and losing 6-6 on away goals.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>2016 Round of 16 \u2013 Bayern Munich v Juventus<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Just when you thought Bayern were out they pulled us back in.<\/p>\n<p>A 2-2 first leg in Turin set the stage for the second leg where Lewandowski and Muller levelled the tie in the final 20 minutes of normal time to send it to extra time where Thiago and Kingsley Coman sent Bayern through.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1106898366347309056&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F05%2Fclassic-champions-league-ties%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h5><strong>2013 Quarter Final \u2013 Borussia Dortmund v Malaga<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Malaga were not Champions League regulars and might feel a bit hard done by with this exit against Borussia Dortmund.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1248177877050437632&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F05%2Fclassic-champions-league-ties%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h5><strong>2012 Semi Final \u2013 Chelsea v Barcelona <\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Chelsea\u2019s 2012 Champions League triumph was built around being the comeback kings and producing late drama.<\/p>\n<p>But no moment was better for Blues fans than going into the Nou Camp and Fernando Torres sealing the tie with this cool run.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=973895791038402560&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F05%2Fclassic-champions-league-ties%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h5><strong>2010 Semi Final \u2013 Inter Milan v Barcelona <\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Holding onto a 3-1 lead heading into the second leg, this was a masterclass from Mourinho in the dark arts of football.<\/p>\n<p>Probably not the prettiest game but a classic nonetheless, just like The Special One\u2019s celebration.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1255046114530725888&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F05%2Fclassic-champions-league-ties%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h5><strong>2009 Quarter Final \u2013 Chelsea v Liverpool<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>4-4, need we say any more?<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1514528893641789441&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F05%2Fclassic-champions-league-ties%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h5><strong>2005 Final \u2013 Liverpool v AC Milan<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>3-0 up in the second half, there\u2019s no way AC Milan could blow this one right?<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1397115338224017409&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F05%2Fclassic-champions-league-ties%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The biggest and best club football competition in the world has delivered yet again with an all time classic Champions League Semi Final between Inter and Barcelona Going in locked-up at 3-3 on aggregate, Barca were down 2-0 in the second.\u00a0 Inter looked in control but a stunning comeback of three unanswered goals put the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":74124,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,598,344],"tags":[1463,1392,119,173,126,129,1221,23,2540,2725],"hub_post_cat":[],"class_list":["post-38611","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-soccer","category-special-interest","category-sports","tag-barcelona","tag-champions-league","tag-chelsea","tag-football","tag-liverpool","tag-manchester-city","tag-real-madrid","tag-soccer","tag-tottenham","tag-uefa-champions-league"],"acf":{"md_tip_date":null,"md_tip_date_end":null,"md_market_url":"","tip_date":"07\/05\/2025","event_country":"Australia"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38611","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38611"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38611\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/74124"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38611"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38611"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38611"},{"taxonomy":"hub_post_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hub_post_cat?post=38611"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}