4-1 and 4-0 are astounding score lines in semifinals. Dortmund demolished Real Madrid thanks to Robert Lewandowski, following Bayern’s demolition job on Barcelona. However, the ties are not over yet. Many teams have pulled off seemingly impossible comebacks in the past. Barcelona in fact is one of them.
FC Barcelona 5-1 Chelsea (Quarterfinals; 1999-2000 Season)
(Chelsea 3-1 FC Barcelona)
Chelsea won the first leg of the tie, 3-1, in Stamford Bridge. In the second leg, Barca went ahead by two goals but then saw the hero of the first leg, Tore Andre Flo half the deficit. At 2-1, Barcelona was still trailing in the tie. Dani Garcia struck however to bring the match level on aggregate. A Rivaldo penalty and a Patrick Kluivert goal in extra time sent Chelsea crashing out of the competition, wondering what might have been.
Overall, the comeback was simply brilliant. However, they are not the only Spanish team to have pulled of a simply unthinkable comeback in this competition. RC Deportivo La Coruna managed to do the same. Here is a look at how they defeated the odds:
Deportivo La Coruna 4-0 AC Milan (Quarterfinals; 2003-2004 Season)
(AC Milan 4-1 Deportivo La Coruna)
Walter Pandiani had put Deportivo in front in Italy. However, Milan turned the match on its head with four goals, winning 4-1 in the first leg. In the second leg, Deportivo was ahead on aggregate by half-time. 3-0 was the score; Walter Pandiani of course scored one of the goals. In the second half, Deportivo added a fourth, making the score line 4-0.
Hence, these two examples clearly demonstrate the destructive power called complacency and the constructive power called will. Real Madrid and Barcelona both lacked a game plan in the first matches. Barca knows how to play one way at the end of the day nonetheless. Bayern changed their usual possession based and pressing based game style into a counterattacking one. It paid dividends. Dortmund stuck to the plan of pressing incessantly.
These two teams should clearly know that they will have to execute game plans to perfection again in the second leg. Bayern especially should not need reminding of the pain of second legs. This is one of the reasons why:
Bayern München 2-3 Inter Milan (Round of 16; 2010-11 Season)
(Inter Milan 0-1 Bayern München)
Bayern had head to San Siro and beaten Inter by a solitary Mario Gomez goal. Their chances of progression were excellent as, historically, only one team had ever come back after losing the first leg at home, 0-1. Bayern dominated at the Allianz Arena, going in 2-1 at half-time and 3-1 on aggregate. Thomas Müller had had an effort cleared off the line by Andrea Ranocchia too.
Wesley Sneijder scored in the second half, leveling matters on the day. In the 87th minute, Goran Pandev broke Bayern hearts. His goals saw the Bavarians exit the competition in shock on away goals, unable to understand what had just happened. Müller spoke afterwards about his disbelief regarding the debacle that day.
Despite the many records the German sides broke in the first legs, it is worth remembering that their opposition is of the highest caliber. Barcelona is perhaps the only side in the world capable of overturning a first leg 4-0 deficit against Bayern. They beat Bayern by that exact same score line in 2009 after all. Real Madrid has enough ammunition to strike thrice against Borussia Dortmund.
The job is not done. It is only half-time. As we all know, the final result can be much different from that at half-time. It is not time for Bayern and Dortmund to celebrate. It is time for them to concentrate and put all their efforts into the second legs to dash hopes of an all Spanish finale.
