Liverpool follow in Panathinaikos’ footsteps

Liverpool become the third team to overturn a three-goal deficit at the halfway point of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, after Panathinaikos and Barcelona completed a similar feat in 1971 and 1986, respectively.

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Many are calling Liverpool’s historic 4-0 triumph over Barcelona as the greatest ever comeback in the history of the UEFA Champions League, and rightfully so. They found themselves 3-0 down after the first leg but turned it around at Anfield, despite the absence of several key players to book their ticket to Madrid.

However, they are not the first or the only club to overturn a three-goal deficit in the semifinals of Europe’s premier club competition. Crazily enough, Panathinaikos were the first to achieve such a feat in 1970-71 and Barcelona were the second in 1985-86.

Panathinaikos 1970-71

Panathinaikos were the first club to shock Europe with this feat en route to reaching the 1970-71 European Cup final (where they lost 2-0 to Ajax at Wembley).

The Prasini lost 4-1 in the first leg of the semifinals to Red Star Belgrade in Serbia. Aristidis Kamaras scored the only away goal for the Greens in the first leg, however, by then the Serbian club was already leading 3-0. It ended 4-1 and all hope was virtually lost.

The rematch is Athens looked academic, however, Panathinaikos had other things on their mind. Antonis Antoniadis (who was the competition’s leading goal scorer in that season) scored after two minutes to revive hopes of a turnaround. It remained 1-0 at half-time and the Trifylli had to wait until the second half to seal the deal. Another goal from Antoniadis brought the deficit back to one ten minutes after the restart and then Kamaras scored the all-important third on 66 minutes to make it 4-4 on aggregate. Panathinaikos held on for the 3-0 win to reach the final on away goals.

Barcelona 1985-86

Swedish club Gotenburg pummelled Barcelona in the first leg of the 1985-86 European Cup semi-finals. It was 2-0 by halftime and it ended 3-0 to the Swedes.

Similar to Panathinaikos’ and Liverpool’s turnarounds, Barcelona struck early in the return leg at the Camp Nou. By the 69th minute, it was already 3-0 to the hosts and it remained that way. It ended 3-3 on aggregate and a penalty shootout was required.

Barcelona emerged victorious 5-4 in the shootout to book their place in the final, which they ironically lost to Steaua Bucharest on penalties.

by Nick Tsambouniaris

Image Source: to10.gr

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