Manchester United's greatest European comebacks
United players mob Andrew Cole after his
1999 winner at Juventus
United are 2-0 down going into the second leg of their UEFA Europa League tie with Liverpool, but – as UEFA.com discovers – few clubs handle adversity like the Red Devils.
Published: Monday 14 March 2016,
9.00CET
Manchester United trail Liverpool 2-0 going into the second leg of the clubs' first European encounter, but the Red Devils have gained a reputation for bouncing back. Liverpool fans will remember their 1999 FA Cup exit to Sir Alex Ferguson's side, when they led 1-0 on 88 minutes, only for Dwight Yorke and Ole Gunnar Solskjær to turn the tide with goals at the death.
And in Europe, as UEFA.com discovers, United have worked greater wonders still.
Athletic Club 5-3 United
United 3-0 Athletic Club
1956/57 European Champion Clubs' Cup
quarter-finals
[img]
A champagne celebration for United's class
of '57
Heavy snow in Bilbao gave the first leg a
surreal twist, with United 3-0 down at half-
time; Matt Busby's team rallied, a late
strike reducing Athletic's advantage to two
goals. That was regarded as a brilliant
Athletic side, but United – playing at
Manchester City's Maine Road – took them
apart in the return leg, Dennis Viollet
finishing after a Duncan Edwards shot was
deflected into his path to secure a 1-0
half-time lead. United had further goals
disallowed and hit the post in the second
half before strikes from Tommy Taylor and
Johnny Berry finally knocked out Athletic,
the Daily Express calling it "the greatest
victory in soccer history".
Tottenham 2-0 United
United 4-1 Tottenham
1963/64 European Cup Winners' Cup first
round
[img]
United's 1962/63 FA Cup winner
The first all-English tie in UEFA
competition was an anomaly – Tottenham
having qualified as holders, United as FA
Cup winners – but after Spurs prevailed in
the first leg, the second game went against
them. United scored early, and visiting
captain Dave Mackay was taken off with a
broken leg soon afterwards. With
substitutions a thing of the future,
Tottenham defended bravely with ten
men – even equalising through Jimmy
Greaves – yet could not prevent United
eclipsing them. "I came down from the
stand when Dave Mackay was injured,
hoping to cheer him up," said United's
Denis Law, who was watching from the
sidelines. "But I'd have come down
anyway ... I can't bear to watch football
matches."