Bayern’s Champions League comebacks that offer hope against PSG

Bayern’s clear goal is to overturn a first-leg result and reach the Champions League final. It’s simple in theory. However, Vincent Kompany’s men will need a big performance in the second leg of their semi-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain to come from 5-4 down and knockout the holders to get to Budapest for a 12th European Cup final. But Bayern have done it before. Here’s some examples of coming from behind to advance from down the years…

Power, emotions and a vocal crowd all come together at the Allianz Arena for a magical Champions League night as Bayern looked to overturn a 1-0 first-leg loss to Lazio in the 2023/24 round of 16. “On behalf of the city” was the slogan from the Südkurve as they got behind the team and pushed them to an impressive 3-0 victory with goals from Harry Kane either side of a Thomas Müller finish to advance to the last 16.

“Never give up” echoed round the Estádio do Dragão long into the night of 15 April 2015. Despite a 3-1 defeat in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Porto, the Bayern fans wanted to keep their heads up. Their team had a bad day. One week later, the supporters of the German record champions underlined the message with an impressive and now legendary tifo before the second leg at the Allianz Arena, and the players followed up with action. Pep Guardiola’s side dazzled in every department, leading 5-0 at half-time and deservedly going through to the semi-finals with a 6-1 win in the end.

Three weeks can be an awfully long time, especially when you’re desperate to make amends for a bad result. In late February 2012, Bayern suffered a 1-0 first-leg defeat at Swiss champions Basel, and their chances of reaching the final at their own stadium were already under threat at the start of the knockout stage. The Munich men were having none of it, though, and produced a blistering attacking display in the second leg. Mario Gómez became the first Bayern player to score four times in a Champions League fixture, with Arjen Robben (twice) and Müller also on the scoresheet in a 7-0 drubbing at the Allianz Arena, as Jupp Heynckes’ men delivered the perfect response to the first-leg loss.

After a 3-2 defeat in the first leg at Real Madrid, the Bavarians categorically needed a goal two weeks later in Munich, but no one would've expected it to come as quickly as it did. Straight from Real’s kick-off, Hasan Salihamidžić won the ball and played in Roy Makaay, who made it 1-0 after just 10.12 seconds - still the fastest goal in Champions League history. Lúcio scored Bayern's second in the 67th minute, and despite a late Ruud van Nistelrooy penalty, Bayern went through to the quarter-finals on away goals.

What do the clashes in the last 16 of the European Cup against Malmo in 1975/76, against Banik Ostrava in 1976/77, against Neuchatel Xamax in 1987/88, and the semi-final against CSKA Sofia in 1981/82 have in common? That’s right, Bayern turned around a first-leg defeat, keeping a clean sheet in the return match. After a 2-0 win in the second leg against Malmo, Bayern went on to reach the final, where they beat Saint-Etienne 1-0 thanks to Franz 'Bulle' Roth’s goal as the famous trophy went to Munich for a third year running. They also progressed to the final in 1982 after the 4-0 second-leg win against Sofia, but this time Pál Csernai’s side - featuring Karl-Heinz Rummenigge up front - lost 1-0 to Aston Villa.

Read up on the facts ahead of the second leg with PSG: