The remarkable first leg of PSG's epic victory against Bayern Munich is the latest entry in a compendium of memorable UEFA Champions League semifinal ties, a collection that also features a famous Liverpool comeback, a four-goal Robert Lewandowski salvo and a record-breaking Cristiano Ronaldo night.
The 2025-26 UEFA Champions League marks the 33rd edition of the competition to feature a semifinal stage. Here are some of the most memorable ties through the years.
Bayern 0-0 Ajax
Ajax 5-2 Bayern (agg: 5-2)
1994-95
A goalless first leg gave little indication of what was to come in Amsterdam, where Jari Litmanen scored twice. Finidi George, Ronald de Boer and Marc Overmars added further goals as a youthful Ajax side reached the club's fifth European Cup final. Marcel Witeczek and Mehmet Scholl struck for Giovanni Trapattoni's visitors.
Dynamo Kyiv 3-3 Bayern
Bayern 1-0 Dynamo Kyiv (agg: 4-3)
1998-99
Andriy Shevchenko, 22, scored twice as Valeriy Lobanovskiy's resurgent Dynamo took a 3-1 lead at home, but Bayern struck twice in the final 12 minutes before Mario Basler got the only goal of the return fixture. "When we were 3-1 up, we had chances to score a fourth and fifth," striker Serhiy Rebrov recalled. "Many years have passed but I can say that we deserved to win that Champions League."
Manchester United 1-1 Juventus
Juventus 2-3 Manchester United (agg: 3-4)
1998-99
Trailing to Filippo Inzaghi's double within 11 minutes of kick-off in the second leg, United were inspired by Roy Keane, who headed in a David Beckham corner before Dwight Yorke levelled and Andrew Cole's late winner completed the turnaround. "It was the most emphatic display of selflessness I have seen on a football field," said Sir Alex Ferguson of his captain, who received a booking that meant he missed the final.
Valencia 4-1 Barcelona
Barcelona 2-1 Valencia (agg: 3-5)
1999-2000
Immense at home in their first Champions League season, Héctor Cúper's men shredded Barcelona in the first leg, Miguel Ángel Angulo striking twice. Gaizka Mendieta made it 5-1 on aggregate 69 minutes into the Camp Nou return before the home side rallied. "We took people by surprise," Cúper noted, though there were to be no shocks in the all-Spanish decider against Madrid.
Barcelona 0-2 Real Madrid
Real Madrid 1-1 Barcelona (agg: 3-1)
2001-02
Goals from Zinedine Zidane and Steve McManaman ended Barcelona's near-19-year run without a home loss to their great rivals, and there was no way back after Raúl González put Vicente del Bosque's Galácticos ahead in the return fixture. "I want to honour Barcelona's attitude, it was great," Del Bosque said after the visitors bossed the return leg. "But our individuals, especially Raúl, have been crucial."
Real Madrid 2-1 Juventus
Juventus 3-1 Real Madrid (agg: 4-3)
2002-03
Returning to his old stomping ground for the second leg, Zinedine Zidane was upstaged as David Trezeguet and Alessandro Del Piero put Juve 2-0 up, with Gianluigi Buffon saving a Luís Figo penalty and Pavel Nedvěd netting for 3-0. Zidane got a late consolation, but Nedvěd's despair was greater, a booking triggering a suspension for the final. "I am so sad I could die," he said afterwards.
AC Milan 2-0 PSV Eindhoven
PSV Eindhoven 3-1 AC Milan (agg: 3-3, Milan win on away goals)
2004-05
Twelve months after succumbing to the mother of all comebacks against Deportivo La Coruña, Milan flirted with disaster in Eindhoven, going 2-0 down before stand-in captain Massimo Ambrosini scored in added time. There was still time for Phillip Cocu to make it 3-1 on the night, Milan defender Jaap Stam concluding: "PSV dominated for almost 90 minutes and that is not the way we need to play."
Dortmund 4-1 Real Madrid
Real Madrid 2-0 Dortmund (agg: 3-4)
2012-13
Robert Lewandowski's semi-final-record four goals in the first leg put Cristiano Ronaldo's 50th in the competition in the shade. "I gave all my players a hug, because they fully deserved it," enthused Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp. "My players were unstoppable." Jose Mourinho's side made a game of it in the return, but Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos' goals came a little too late.
Real Madrid 1-0 Bayern
Bayern 0-4 Real Madrid (agg: 0-5)
2013-14
A narrow home win in the first leg should have heralded a close decider, but as it turned out, Bayern were handed their heaviest home loss in UEFA club competition, while Ronaldo set a competition record with his 15th and 16th goals of the campaign. "This team never ceases to surprise me and today they were very good," coach Carlo Ancelotti concluded.
Liverpool 5-2 Roma
Roma 4-2 Liverpool (agg: 6-7)
2017-18
The Reds scored five times in 34 first-leg minutes, including two each for Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, to seemingly put the tie to bed, but two late goals gave the Giallorossi a sniff. Edin Džeko's second of the tie and a late Radja Nainggolan double then left Roma one shy in the return match, ensuring the record was equalled for most goals in a Champions League knockout tie. "It's completely normal you have to keep your nerve in situations like this," summarised Liverpool manager Klopp.
Barcelona 3-0 Liverpool
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona (agg: 4-3)
2018-19
Lionel Messi netted twice in a Camp Nou procession – and a comeback from three down after a semi-final first leg had never happened before. Liverpool, not averse to such challenges, had other ideas. Divock Origi started and finished the scoring in the second leg, with a Georginio Wijnaldum double in between. "I said to the boys before the game that it was impossible – but because it was them, they had a chance," said Klopp. It was one of the most astonishing turnarounds... until the following night.
Tottenham 0-1 Ajax
Ajax 2-3 Tottenham (agg: 3-3, Tottenham win on away goals)
2018-19
Donny van de Beek decided the first game before Matthijs de Ligt and Hakim Ziyech appeared to seal the victory before half-time in Amsterdam. Enter Lucas Moura, the Brazilian conjuring a miracle with a second-half hat-trick, including a 96th-minute decider. "Football gives us moments like this that we cannot imagine," said the match winner. "It's the best moment in my life."
Manchester City 4-3 Real Madrid
Real Madrid 3-1 aet Manchester City (agg: 6-5)
2021-22
The first leg was a feast of attacking intent, with the Blancos kept alive by Benzema's double. Riyad Mahrez seemed to extinguish their hopes in the return, only for Ancelotti's side to blindside them with Rodrygo's last-gasp double to take the tie into extra time, where Benzema kept his nerve from the penalty spot to complete the comeback. "Another mad night," said Federico Valverde. City would, however, get their revenge at the same stage the next season on their way to a maiden Champions League crown.
Bayern 2-2 Real Madrid
Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern (agg: 4-3)
2023-24
Vinícius Júnior struck first and last in an absorbing first leg in Munich, yet that proved a mere appetiser for the drama that followed back in Spain. Alphonso Davies' stunning drive silenced the Santiago Bernabéu midway through the second half, only for substitute Joselu to strike from close range in the 88th and 91st minutes to turn the tables. "This is Real Madrid!" declared Vinícius Júnior. "We always, always believe. This is just one more instance, because we always believe in ourselves."
Barcelona 3-3 Inter
Inter 4-3 Barcelona (aet, agg: 7-6)
2024-25
"Thank you Inter & Barça" said the headline the following morning as what seemed like the whole of Europe reflected on the marvel of a tie that will live long in the memory. Barcelona battled back from 2-0 down at home, then repeated the feat in Milan before season top scorer Raphinha put them ahead for the first time in the tie with just three minutes left. Cue mayhem as Inter veteran Francesco Acerbi popped up to force extra time, where Davide Frattesi kept his cool amid the chaos to curl in the winner.
Paris 5-4 Bayern
2025-26
It is unusual in the extreme to include a tie at the halfway stage, but such was the quality of the first leg between holders Paris and Bayern. The visitors struck first at Parc des Princes through Harry Kane's penalty, but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and João Neves turned the match in the holders' favour. Back came Bayern, Michael Olise making it 2-2, only for Paris to regain the lead before half-time thanks to Ousmane Dembélé's spot kick. Kvaratskhelia and Dembélé both scored again in the first 13 minutes of the second period as Paris stretched their advantage to 5-2, but two goals in four minutes from Dayot Upamecano and Luis Diaz kept Bayern in touch ahead of the return in Munich.
