Sporting CP dramatically ended Bodo/Glimt‘s incredible UEFA Champions League journey on Tuesday, turning around a significant deficit to knock the Arctic Circle team out of the tournament in the round of 16.
After losing the first leg 3-0 in Norway, it seemed inevitable that Sporting would succumb to Bodo/Glimt’s fairytale run, especially after the Norwegians had already dispatched teams like Manchester City, Atlético Madrid, and Inter Milan in earlier stages of the campaign. However, an astonishing performance at Lisbon’s José Alvalade Stadium led to one of the most remarkable comebacks in Champions League history, securing the Portuguese club a spot in the quarterfinals.
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Sporting scored three goals without reply in the first 78 minutes, pushing the match into extra time before netting two additional goals to complete a stunning 5-0 victory on the night and a 5-3 win on aggregate.
This remarkable achievement positions Sporting as only the fifth club in Champions League history to advance through a two-legged knockout tie after losing by three goals or more in the first leg, placing their comeback against Bodo/Glimt among the likes of Barcelona and Liverpool in the annals of the Champions League’s most epic comebacks.
Following their knockout of Juventus in the previous round, Deportivo faced a daunting task in the quarterfinals when they encountered a heavy 4-1 defeat against AC Milan in the first leg.
Instead of succumbing, the Spanish side fought back at Riazor, achieving the competition’s first comeback from three goals down since Galatasaray managed a similar feat against Neuchâtel Xamax in the 1989 European Cup.
Motivated by their passionate supporters, Deportivo launched a counter-attack on Milan, scoring four times to turn the tie around before being eliminated by eventual winners FC Porto in the semifinals.
In a remarkable two-legged affair, Barcelona faced a shocking 4-0 defeat at the Parc des Princes due to goals from Julian Draxler, Edinson Cavani, and a brace from Ángel Di María, putting PSG in a commanding position for the return leg.
Desperate to overturn the deficit, Barcelona came out firing at Camp Nou, quickly narrowing the score to 3-4 in just 50 minutes, though a penalty from Cavani stifled their momentum temporarily.
Nevertheless, the Catalans pressed on amid an electric atmosphere, clinching victory with a whirlwind of late goals, including two in three minutes from Neymar and a dramatic 96th-minute goal from Sergi Roberto, sealing a 6-1 win and advancing them to the next round with a 6-5 aggregate score.
This comeback from four goals down against PSG is recognized as the largest in Champions League knockout history and has been affectionately dubbed “La Remontada” by the club’s supporters.
AS Roma 4-4 Barcelona (2017-18 quarterfinal)
Benefiting from two unfortunate own goals, Barcelona won the first leg against Roma 4-1 at Camp Nou, but a late goal from Giallorossi star Edin Dzeko proved critical as the aggregate fortunes shifted.
True to form, the Italian side wasted no time in closing the gap when Dzeko scored again just five minutes into the second leg at the Stadio Olimpico.
A penalty converted by club legend Daniele De Rossi reduced the aggregate deficit, followed by an 82nd-minute header from Kostas Manolas that leveled the score at 4-4, sending the stadium into jubilation and sealing Roma’s passage on away goals. This remarkable achievement was likened to Barcelona’s previous year’s comeback, earning it the nickname “Romantada.”
Liverpool 4-3 Barcelona (2018-19 semifinal)
After finishing as runners-up to Real Madrid in the previous season, Liverpool aimed to go one better in 2018-19, facing Barcelona in the semifinals.
Following victories over Bayern Munich and Porto, Jürgen Klopp’s squad fell to a demoralizing 3-0 loss at Camp Nou in the first leg. The Reds required a monumental effort at Anfield, and they delivered with an electrifying four-goal display.
Divock Origi opened the scoring just seven minutes in, and Georgino Wijnaldum added two quick goals shortly after halftime, igniting hope among the home fans for a comeback. Origi then completed the scoring in the 80th minute, netting from a swift corner by Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Sporting CP 5-3 Bodo/Glimt (2025-26 round of 16)
UNBELIEVABLE SCENES IN LISBON 🟢
Sporting scores their fourth to lead Bodo/Glimt 4-3 on aggregate 🤯 pic.twitter.com/pglRyl7PNr
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 17, 2026
Initially, it seemed that Bodo/Glimt were on track for the quarterfinals after a strong performance, having scored three goals against Sporting in the first leg of their round-of-16 matchup.
However, the tables quickly turned in Portugal as Sporting capitalized on Bodo/Glimt’s advantage.
Gonçalo Inácio scored the first goal in the 34th minute, igniting the comeback, before second-half strikes from Pedro Gonçalves and Luis Suárez (thanks to a controversial penalty) leveled the aggregate score.
Maximiliano Araújo then clinched Sporting’s lead on aggregate just two minutes into extra time, followed by Rafael Nel’s goal in the 122nd minute, sealing their remarkable victory.