There were many upsets in Football history but there was none that had generated so much hype before it takes place and had branded so successfully as “La Remontada”.
The term “la remontada” translates to “the comeback” in English, and it became synonymous with Barcelona’s incredible turnaround in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie against PSG in 2016-17. The reason it was called “la remontada” is that Barcelona managed to overcome a seemingly insurmountable deficit, winning the second leg 6-1 to progress to the quarter-finals of the competition.
The term has since become a part of footballing lexicon and is used to describe any remarkable comeback in the sport. However, the original “la remontada” will always be associated with Barcelona’s stunning victory over PSG, which remains one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the UEFA Champions League.
Before the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie between Barcelona and PSG in 2016-17, Barcelona’s odds of qualifying were extremely low as they had lost the first leg 4-0 away from home. However, some bookmakers offered odds of around 50-1 for Barcelona to qualify for the quarter-finals. To put some context in the extend of the upset, the odds for Denmark to win the Euro in 1992 was 80-1 and it was requiring for the Danish Team to pull a number of upsets in a number of games to achieve this. The odds of 50-1 for one game make the upset even more remarkable and also with a fast pay-out as anyone who would place a bet prematch could get his money back 50 times more in 90 minutes.
The comeback of Barcelona against PSG in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie in 2016-17 was so exciting for several reasons. Firstly, the odds were heavily against Barcelona, as they had lost the first leg 4-0 away from home, which is a difficult scoreline to overturn in football.
Secondly, the way Barcelona won the second leg was extraordinary. They needed to score at least four goals to win the tie, and they managed to do so, winning the game 6-1. The manner in which they achieved this was breathtaking, with some of the goals coming in the dying minutes of the match.
Thirdly, the comeback was seen as a tribute to Barcelona’s style of play, which emphasizes possession, creativity, and attacking flair. It was a triumph of skill, determination, and belief, and it captured the imagination of football fans around the world.
Finally, the man who scored the winning goal was a major surprise with Sergi Roberto coming to the rescue in the last second of the game, an unlikely hero as this would be his only goal in the 47 games he played that year.
However, there were a few factors that could have given some hope to all those who decided to back Barcelona:
1. Barcelona had a strong home record: Barcelona had won their last 15 home games in the UEFA Champions League, and they were playing the second leg at the Camp Nou, which is known for its intimidating atmosphere.
2. PSG had a poor away record: PSG had won only one of their last five away games in the Champions League, and they had a history of struggling on the road in the knockout stages of the competition.
3. Barcelona’s attacking firepower: Barcelona had one of the best attacking lineups in the world, with the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar. They were capable of scoring goals in quick succession, and if they could get an early goal, it could give them the momentum they needed to mount a comeback.
Overall, the comeback was a demonstration of the magic of football and its ability to produce stunning and unexpected results, even when the odds seem insurmountable.