Deportivo La Coruña produced a stunning comeback to defeat AC Milan 4-0 on April 7, 2004, overturning a 4-1 first-leg deficit in the Champions League quarterfinals. The victory sent shockwaves through European football and remains one of the competition’s most memorable upsets.
Javier Irureta’s team quickly erased their disadvantage with a sensational first half, and thanks to the away goals rule, they were on the verge of advancing. Fran González then added a fourth goal for “Super Depor” in the 76th minute, sealing Milan’s fate.
“What we have is something no one expected, inexplicable. We are extremely disappointed, but we must find the strength to get back up,”
said Carlo Ancelotti after the match, according to World Soccer, denying that his team had underestimated the opponent.
Barcelona Faced Similar Heartbreak Twice
In Champions League history, two other ties saw a team squander a three-goal lead, with FC Barcelona the team to suffer on both occasions. In the 2017/18 season, the Catalan club faced AS Roma in the quarterfinals, winning the first leg 4-1, with Kostas Manolas and Daniele De Rossi both scoring own goals for the Italian side.
Photo: Isabella Bonotto/AFP
Barcelona boasted a significantly stronger squad and was considered one of the tournament’s favorites, leaving Roma with little chance in the return leg. However, at the Stadio Olimpico, Bosnian Edin Džeko scored in the sixth minute, and Daniele De Rossi converted a penalty in the 58th. Barcelona struggled to create chances, and in the 82nd minute, Manolas, who had scored an own goal in the first leg, headed home to complete a remarkable comeback for Roma, eliminating the tournament favorite 4-4 on aggregate with more away goals.
“The responsibility for the elimination is solely mine. Yesterday I told the players to play as if the score was 0-0 and to win,”
said Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde after the match, as reported by Origo, as his team failed to register a single shot on target in Rome.
Despite the global shock, Valverde led Barcelona to a La Liga title and Copa del Rey crown at the finish of the season, allowing him to remain as the team’s coach for the following season, but history repeated itself in dramatic fashion.
