“If they can score four, we can score six.” – Luis Enrique
Soccer is a game of moments. Some are predictable, some are historic, and then there are those that defy reality. La Remontada. Barcelona’s legendary comeback against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on March 8, 2017—was not just a victory. It was a miracle that defied fate.
The First Leg: The Nightmare in Paris
Barcelona’s 4-0 defeat in the first leg at the Parc des Princes was a disaster of epic proportions. Angel Di María danced through the midfield, Julian Draxler tormented the flanks, and Edinson Cavani buried the Blaugrana’s hopes. The football world wrote Barcelona off. No team in Champions League history had ever overturned a four-goal deficit.
Luis Enrique, however, refused to surrender.
“If they can score four, we can score six. We are not just any club; this is FC Barcelona.”
His words were dismissed as blind optimism. But within the walls of Camp Nou, a different belief was brewing. Neymar, speaking days before the second leg, was confident:
“We have the team, we have the mentality. We can make history.”
The Second Leg: La Remontada Became A Reality
96,000 fans filled the Camp Nou, buzzing with anticipation. The floodlights beamed down on the gladiators about to step onto the pitch. Luis Enrique had promised an all-out attack, and Barcelona delivered from the first whistle.
1st Goal – Luis Suárez (3’): The Spark
A high press, an aerial duel, and a glancing header from Luis Suárez. The ball looped past Kevin Trapp. 1-0. The stadium erupted.
2nd Goal – Layvin Kurzawa (OG, 40’): A Gift from the Gods
Barcelona pressed PSG into submission. A scuffed clearance from Kurzawa ended in his own net. 2-0. Belief turned into possibility.
3rd Goal – Lionel Messi (50’): The Architect Strikes
Neymar went down in the box. Penalty. Up stepped Messi, calm and ruthless. 3-0.
One more goal, and Barcelona would force extra time. But then, disaster struck.
PSG Strikes Back – Edinson Cavani (62’): The Death Blow?
A bouncing ball, a powerful volley. Cavani silenced the Camp Nou.
It was heartbreak. Barcelona now needed three goals in 28 minutes. Fans buried their faces in their hands. The miracle seemed over.
Neymar’s Masterpiece: The Five Minutes That Shook the World
Then, Neymar took matters into his own hands.
4th Goal – Neymar’s Free Kick (88’): A Last Breath
A stunning curler from the edge of the box. 4-1. Was there still time?
5th Goal – Neymar’s Penalty (90’): Hope Restored
Suárez went down. Neymar converted. 5-1. Now, just one more goal was needed.
Camp Nou was on the verge of collapse. Luis Enrique waved his hands frantically, urging his team forward. The crowd roared, believing the impossible.
6th Goal – Sergi Roberto (95’): The Miracle
A lofted ball from Neymar. Sergi Roberto, Barcelona’s unsung hero, stretched his leg. The ball met the net.
6-1.
The stadium exploded. The earth shook. The Barcelona bench ran onto the field, bodies crashing in celebration.
Aftermath: A Legacy Etched in Football History
Luis Enrique, overwhelmed with emotion, summed it up:
“This is a night that will be remembered forever. This team has rewritten history.”
Commentators, too, were left in disbelief. Legendary voices of the game encapsulated the moment:
- Peter Drury: “Barcelona have done the impossible! This is football from another planet!”
- Ray Hudson: “Magisterial! Unbelievable! If you wrote this in a script, nobody would believe it!”
- Gary Lineker: “This is the greatest comeback in Champions League history. No question.”
Barcelona had done the impossible. They had not just won; they had demolished PSG, proving that miracles exist.
For PSG, La Remontada became a scar that may never heal.
For soccer, La Remontada remains the greatest comeback of all time.
