MADRID, 10 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Santiago Bernabéu was once again the scene this Wednesday of a European comeback, something that had not been experienced in excess in recent years. In fact, Real Madrid had not faced something similar in front of their fans since April 2016, mainly due to their good work away from home in recent years.
The team coached by Carlo Ancelotti had not won a knockout game at the Concha Espina fiefdom since February 14, 2018, precisely also against PSG, in the first leg of the round of 16 at the time, and in their last four knockout games they had three defeats ( Juventus, Ajax and Manchester City) and a draw (Bayern). But the streak changed in a magical night like others of yesteryear in Europe.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo ends the ‘Wolves’. Before receiving Real Madrid, they had not had to overcome an adverse result in the Champions League at the Bernabéu since April 12, 2016. In the quarterfinals, everything looked good after pairing with Wolfsburg, but the German team won the first leg 2- 0 and made things complicated. Then, in the second leg, Cristiano Ronaldo emerged to sign a triplet, the first two between minutes 15 and 17 and the third from a free kick in 77, to strengthen the path to the ‘Eleventh’.
2. Pass in the rain against the German ‘ogre’. In the 2001-2002 season, on the way to the ‘Novena’, Real Madrid surely had to get rid of their European ‘ogre’ at that time, Bayern, with whom they had a great rivalry. The Bavarian team won 2-1 in Munich, but in the return leg they succumbed to Vicente del Bosque’s men who, in the rain and in the second half, lifted the result with goals from Helguera and Guti.
3. The epic against Gladbach. One of the most remembered European nights in Real Madrid is that of December 11, 1985. Real Madrid had been shaken in Germany by Borussia Moenchengladbach (5-1) and needed an epic comeback that was forged in a dedicated Bernabéu. Before the minute, a double by Jorge Valdano made us dream. The 3-0, by Carlos Santillana, did not come until 77 and when the Germans were close to getting out alive, the Cantabrian striker executed them in 89. The image of Juanito’s joy after being changed reflected a night full of emotions.
4. The night of Emilio Butragueño. The UEFA Cup of the 84-85 campaign left several Madrid comebacks in their stadium. There was controversy against Rijeka in the round of 32 and against Inter in the semifinals, but between the two, in the round of 16, was the one signed against Anderlecht and notable for the score. The Belgian team stood in Concha Espina with an excellent 3-0, but fell 6-1 with a great performance by a young Emilio Butragueño, author of a ‘hat-trick’.
5. 90 minutes are a long time. Juanito had said this phrase after losing 2-0 at the Giusseppe Meazza in the first leg of the 84-85 UEFA Cup semi-finals. Real Madrid came from behind in that tie and fate wanted both teams to meet again the following year and in the same round. The ‘neroazzurri’ won the first leg 3-1, but could not get out of the Bernabéu with flying colors, where they were thrashed 5-1 in a match decided in extra time and with Santillana leading the way and his brace.
6. Comeback against Celtic. Real Madrid experienced a comeback in the quarterfinals of the 1979-1980 European Cup against Celtic Glasgow. The Scottish team had won 2-0 in the first leg and forced Vujadin Boskov’s team to ally with their public, which filled the merengue coliseum to bursting. Santillana fanned the flame with a psychological goal in the 45th minute, Stielike equalized at the start of the second half and Juanito sentenced when the shadow of extra time was already looming.
7. The first. Surely, the first great European comeback in the history of Real Madrid in the European Cup was in the 1975-1976 season against Derby County. The English champion won 4-1 at his stadium, but succumbed in the capital 5-1 after extra time where he decided on a goal from Santillana.