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Real Madrid's immense success in the Champions League is one of the reasons why they are the most followed club (112m) on Instagram.
Even when the odds are stacked against them, Real Madrid somehow produce big performances in Europe's premier tournament. Last week, they condemned Paris Saint-Germain to a staggering defeat in the Round of 16, a team who were in a position of advantage deep into the second half of the second leg.
Even the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Marquinhos couldn't help their side avoid a collapse as Los Blancos pressured them beyond their threshold. The Spanish side's comeback sent us back in time as we wondered how well they have fought on occasions to upset the odds.
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Real Madrid have won a record 13 Champions League titles
People take offense at the fact that the La Liga giants are the self-proclaimed "Kings of Europe". However, it would be foolish to disagree with their claims. They have won it nearly twice as many times as AC Milan; the club with the second-most Champions League titles (7).
They have displayed great character, resilience and a winning mentality on the pitch year after year. Naturally, at times it has not been smooth sailing, but Real Madrid have dug deep when needed and clung on to the slimmest of chances.
Take a look at the five occasions when Real Madrid avoided crashing out of the Champions League knockout stages.
#5 vs Bayern Munich, 2001/02 Quarter Finals
Real Madrid were drawn against the reigning champions of Europe in the Champions League quarter-finals. Psychologically, the advantage was with Bayern Munich, who had successfully defeated the team from Madrid in the previous campaign (2000/01) in the semi-final stage.
Their ghosts came chasing again. The Spanish side squandered their 13th minute lead via Geremi's goal in the first leg at Olympiastadion to a late flurry from the Bavarians. The home side scored twice in the last 10 minutes of the tie, with Claudio Pizarro scoring the winner in the 2-1 victory.
The then Bayern coach, Ottmar Hitzfeld, was buoyed by his side's impressive performance and flaunted his side's supremacy with a cheeky remark. "I don't understand all the discussion about Madrid being the best in the world - we always beat them." he said.
Little did he know he spoke too soon. At the Santiago Bernabeu, the home side put in a determined display to make sure Hitzfeld ate his words. Real Madrid took the lead on home turf with an Ivan Helguera goal in the 69th minute. It was 2-2 on aggregate and holding on to the result would have been enough to take Los Blancos to the semi-finals on away goals.
But Guti pounced on an opportunity late in the game and put the tie to bed with the scoreline reading 2-0 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate. The La Liga giants progressed and later secured their third Champions League title in six years.
#4 vs Wolfsburg, 2015/16 Quarter Finals
This is one of the clashes that stands out in recent memory for Real Madrid fans and especially the rich fanbase of Cristiano Ronaldo. When the draw was made, Wolfsburg were the clear underdogs, so much so that no one really even gave them a slim chance of an upset.
But the more people think they know about football, the less they seem to know. By the end of the first leg played in Germany, Los Blancos were staring down the barrel and faced an embarrassing exit from the Champions League. Wolfsburg made their home somewhat of a fortress that particular season. By beating Real Madrid 2-0 in the first leg they extended their home record to 100% in the competition that year.
The famed trio of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo failed to influence the match in any manner and had a forgettable night. But the Portuguese is made of different material altogether, and in the second leg he proved his inhuman capacity once again.
CR7 scored the fifth hat-trick of his Champions League career at the Santiago Bernabeu in the return leg and single-handedly ended the German side's dream run. It was a complete display from Real Madrid's star man who opened the scoring by connecting well with a Dani Carvajal cross. He then equalized the tie in style by heading a precise corner swung in by Toni Kroos.
Wolfsburg were trying their best to hang on and take the game to extra time, but the Portuguese was in no mood to play an extra 30 minutes. He stepped in to take a free kick and masterfully dispatched it between the gaps in the wall to give his side a lead on the night and on aggregate.
Real Madrid went on to win the Champions League for the first time with Ronaldo around
#3 vs Schalke, Round of 16 - 2014/15
This is one of the most thrilling encounters from the last decade in the Champions League that has, surprisingly, gone under the radar. This was a nine-goal thriller on aggregate which had an unbelievable second-leg conclusion to it that was definitely not for the weak-hearted.
Real Madrid were the reigning champions of Europe and understandbly the favorites to progress. The first leg killed the tie for a larger audience as the Spanish side went to Schalke's home territory, put in a dominating performance and had a 2-0 win to show for it. Good pals Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo both found the back of the net in each half.
Schalke were in a nothing-to-lose situation when they traveled to Spain. Los Blancos were huge favorites as always in the Champions League and the game was there's to lose. Everyone expected the home side to come out calm and composed and see the game out with minimal fuss and complete professionalism.
However, the German side were in no mood to take it easy and pushed Real Madrid to the brink of elimination in the 90 minutes that unfolded. They took the lead twice, first via Christian Fuchs and then later in the first half with Klaas Jan Huntelaar. But they were unable to hold on to the lead both times as Cristiano Ronaldo scored two headed equalizers to grab a brace for the night.
The La Liga giants then took the lead for the first time on the night through Karim Benzema in the second half but it lasted only five minutes. Leroy Sane, in what was his ninth senior appearance, produced a brilliant curler to pull his team back to level pegging with his first senior goal.
Huntelaar rose to the occasion again and scored his second goal in the 84th minute to set up a tense finale. Thanks to some desperate defending by Real Madrid, the scores settled at 4-3 as the German side pulled off an unthinkable win, albeit losing 5-4 on aggregate.
The goal fest made for some top-notch reel material.
#2 vs Juventus, 2017/18 Quarter Finals
This one is fondly remembered as one of the most complete and controversial knockout games in Champions League history. It had elements of respect and disrespect, of thrill and adventure, of delight and despair, but somehow Real Madrid got the better of the odds in the end.
In the first leg, Turin witnessed "The Cristiano Ronaldo show" in its full glory. He opened the scoring in just the third minute of the game and then doubled the lead in the second half with a breathtaking overhead kick. The whole stadium gave the man a standing ovation while his own teammates stood baffled.
Later, the Portuguese assisted Marcelo as Juventus were declared done and dusted with Los Blancos enjoying a three away-goal cushion without reply. Except, the Bianconeri were just getting started. In the return leg, the Serie A side ran riot at the Santiago Bernabeu from the get go.
Mario Mandzukic opened the scoring right away from kick-off and put his team in the lead in just the first minute of the game. The Croatian continued to be a menace for the Real Madrid backline and doubled the lead with another header at Dani Carvajal's cost.
Zinedine Zidane's men were having serious problems controlling the tempo of the game and Blaise Matuidi capitalized on their failure. At the hour mark, the Frenchman found the back of the net to get Juventus level pegging. The Italian juggernaut went 3-3 on aggregate and still had the opportunity to add to their away goals.
But it wasn't meant to be. A controversial penalty call by Michael Oliver in the dying embers of the game saw Ronaldo step up again and put the tie to bed once and for all. Gianluigi Buffon lost his temper and was shown a red, while other Juventus players continued their protests on one of the most controversial Champions League nights.
#1 vs Paris Saint-Germain, Round of 16 - 2021/22
The stage was set for Kylian Mbappe's big audition as Real Madrid drew PSG in the Round of 16 phase of the Champions League's ongoing edition. Sure, the narrative of Lionel Messi's return to the Santiago Bernabeu was a headline of its own, but it was only playing in the background.
The Frenchman wreaked havoc on his future potential employers in the first leg at the Parc de Princes. He drove Dani Carvajal crazy on the right flank multiple times throughout the 90 minutes as PSG put in a dominating performance, having the lion's share of possession. In injury time, they got their reward as Mbappe scored and gave the visitors a deserved lead to take into the second leg.
For once, Real Madrid were not even remotely favorites in the Champions League. The first leg saw Casemiro and Ferland Mendy receive yellow cards which led to their suspension from the second leg. At the Santiago Bernabeu, Mbappe presented himself to the crowd in emphatic fashion by scoring on the counter-attack and giving PSG a 2-0 lead on aggregate.
But surely Karim Benzema was not going to allow his junior French international colleague all the limelight. In what could be defined as one of the most inspiring individual Champions League performances, the 34-year old struck a hat-trick in just 17 minutes to neutralize PSG's two-goal advantage.
He was all over the French side's rearguard, forcing mistakes from the goalkeeper and from the backline. Benzema's poaching instincts were at their most effective and with his clinical finishing he punished a complacent PSG side and condemned them to another elimination in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
