Manchester United's greatest European comebacks

Manchester United pulled off one of their greatest-ever European comebacks on Thursday night, coming from 4-2 down in extra time to beat Lyon 5-4.

Even for a club who’s made its name on the back of remarkable comebacks and their never-say-die attitude, the nature in which they beat Lyon will live long in the memory.

United were 2-0 up on the night before two second-half goals forced extra time. It was an extra time in which their opponents would be forced to play with 10 men, however, following a red card in normal time.

Yet the French side went 3-2 up, capping an incredible comeback of their own, before seemingly securing their passage into the semi-finals with a fourth in the second half of extra time.

United gave themselves hope when Bruno Fernandes scored from the spot before substitute Kobbie Mainoo equalised in the 120th minute. As the game looked to be heading towards penalties, Casemiro found Harry Maguire at the back post, who nodded home an incredible winner.

Below we look at some of United’s greatest European comebacks.

Manchester United 3-0 Olympiakos (3-2 agg) – 2013/14 UEFA Champions League

In their first season of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, Manchester United struggled to ever build any momentum under David Moyes, frequently taking two steps forward and three steps back.

A turning point for many fans towards the manager came in Greece as United limply lost 2-0 to Olympiakos; already out of the FA Cup and EFL Cup and seventh in the league, the Red Devils’ season looked to be over by February.

But on a raucous Wednesday night at Old Trafford, a Robin van Persie penalty gave United life, scoring a second in stoppage time before completing a hat-trick shortly after half-time.

United would hold out, and their season remained alive.

Juventus 2-3 Manchester United (3-4 agg) – 1998/99 UEFA Champions League

Having scored a late equaliser at Old Trafford to at least stay in the tie, Manchester United had it all to do when conceding two early goals to Juventus at the Delle Alpi.

Playing against arguably Europe’s most formidable team at the time, boasting a midfield of Davids, Deschamps, Di Livio, Conte and Zidane, United would have to score twice and prevent the Old Lady scoring any more.

As predecessor Bryan Robson had done 15 years earlier, captain Roy Keane would enjoy his finest hour in a United shirt. Glancing home a header from a corner, a reckless challenge would earn Keane a booking that would keep him from the final should United get there.

A minute later, Dwight Yorke found half a yard in the Juventus area, heading home an equaliser as United held a precarious lead on away goals.

But as the game entered its dying stages Andy Cole would round Angelo Peruzzi and score a third, securing a place in the UEFA Champions League final.

Manchester United 3-0 Barcelona (3-2 agg) – 1983/84 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup

Before the days of Sir Alex Ferguson, when European nights under the lights were still fleeting, United left themselves with a mountain to climb having lost 2-0 in the Nou Camp to Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the 1983/83 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.

This was no ordinary Barcelona side, either, but one boasting Bernd Schuster in midfield and a certain

Those in attendance would cite it as one of the greatest atmospheres Old Trafford has ever witnessed with the raucous crowd urging their side on from the opening whistle with the players responding in kind.

In what would become Bryan Robson’s finest hour, ‘Captain Marvel’ opened the scoring inside half an hour before levelling the tie shortly after half-time. Frank Stapleton would soon add a third, but one away goal from Barcelona would send them through.

United held firm with fans on the pitch at full time, as United knocked Barcelona out.

Paris Saint-Germain 1-3 Manchester United (3-3 agg; Manchester United win on away goals)

Having ridden the crest of a wave following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s appointment as interim manager, United were given a swift reality check by Paris Saint-Germain. The Parisians took a 2-0 lead back to France, with matters made worse for United following the sending off of talisman Paul Pogba in the first leg.

It was a threadbare United side with nine injuries plus the suspended Pogba; of the 14 players to feature, the average age was just 23.8.

Nevertheless, Romelu Lukaku gave the Reds hope with an early opener, albeit hope that was quickly extinguished by Juan Bernat.

The goal meant United needed two unanswered goals to progress, though Lukaku did give United the lead on the night with a second on the half-hour mark.

But just as time looked to have run out, the still-new VAR awarded Solskaer’s men a penalty deep in stoppage time.

Marcus Rashford stepped up and lashed home, as United became the first side in UEFA Champions League history to progress having lost by two goals at home.

Manchester United 5-4 Lyon (7-6 agg) – 2024/25 UEFA Europa League

To say it’s been hard to know what to expect from Manchester United over the last couple of years would be an understatement. There’s been the 4-3 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup, the win in the final against Manchester City a couple of months later, there was the farcical 3-3 draw with Coventry sandwiched in between.

More recently there has been the 2-1 win at the Etihad and the 2-2 draw at Anfield, but in terms of drama, this tops the lot.

Having already thrown away a 2-1 lead in the first leg, United could at least count on their home support to help see them through the tie with Lyon and they seemed to have done just that.

But despite leading 2-0 with 20 minutes to play, two quick-fire goals from the visitors forced extra time.

Lyon had been reduced to 10 men at the end of normal time, yet took the lead in the 104th minute, with a 109th-minute penalty seemingly sealing their exit in what looked to be a new low for the club.

A penalty from Bruno Fernandes seven minutes from time kept the tie alive, while Kobbie Mainoo scored another dramatic late goal, equalising in the 120th minute to surely force penalties.

But with five minutes of stoppage time added on, Casemiro found Harry Maguire at the back post, with the defender heading home, sparking complete and utter chaos in the stands.

Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich – 1998/99 UEFA Champions League

Not just the greatest comeback in United’s history, but one of the greatest comebacks in European football history.

Chasing the Treble, United were without Roy Keane and Paul Scholes forcing a midfield reshuffle from Sir Alex Ferguson. Going 1-0 down early on, United struggled to carve out any meaningful openings as the toils of a long season looked to finally be catching up with them.

Bayern Munich would hit the post and the crossbar as United continued to live on the edge, but with a last throw of the dice, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was introduced.

With three minutes of stoppage time announced, United won a corner. David Beckham’s delivery wasn’t dealt with by Bayern, who could only clear as far as Ryan Giggs on the edge of the area. His mis-cued volley was turned in by Teddy Sheringham to keep the final alive.

United, now spurred on by the equaliser, looked to punish a shell-shocked Bayern side and won another corner.

Another in-swinging Beckham delivery was met by the head of Sheringham, with Solskjaer perfectly placed to poke the winner into the roof of the net.

With two goals in stoppage time, United had won the UEFA Champions League.