The most important KO wins in Champions League historical past

Arsenal’s current 7-1 win over PSV within the Champions League’s final 16 broke quite a few information. Whereas it was the membership’s greatest win in a European match since 1993, it was additionally the biggest profitable margin for an away aspect within the knockout phases of the Champions League.

Mikel Arteta’s aspect scored 3 times within the opening half hour, earlier than blitzing their Dutch opponents with early targets within the second half to all however kill the tie, with the Gunners heading into their second leg with a gargantuan lead.

However whose footsteps have they adopted in? Right here, we have delved into the archives to seek out the most important Champions League wins within the knockout phases. Following Arsenal’s win in Eindhoven, there have now been 11 situations of a crew profitable a knockout sport by six targets or extra.

1

Bayern Munich 7-0 Basel

2011/12, spherical of 16

Amongst these tied for the most important profitable margin is Bayern Munich, who characteristic 5 occasions on this checklist. They’ve gained by seven targets within the knockout phases on two events, with the very first occasion of this in Champions League historical past occurring within the last-16 stage in 2012.

Basel had claimed a shock first-leg victory in Switzerland because of a late Valentin Stocker aim, however that was brutally extinguished on the Allianz Area three weeks later.

Mario Gomez scored 4 occasions because the Bavarians romped into the quarter-finals, with Arjen Robben and Thomas Muller additionally getting on the scoresheet.

2

Bayern Munich 7-0 Shakhtar Donetsk

2014/15, spherical of 16

Bayern had been held to a goalless attract Ukraine and had been with out a suspended Xabi Alonso for the second leg of this knockout tie, however that did not cease Shakhtar from being comprehensively crushed in Germany.

Defender Oleksandr Kucher was despatched off after three minutes, and after Thomas Muller transformed the following penalty, there was solely ever going to be one consequence.

5 extra Bayern gamers received in on the act as Muller grabbed himself a brace, with Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery, Holger Badstuber, Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gotze all making full use of their numerical benefit.

3

Man Metropolis 7-0 Schalke

2018/19, spherical of 16

3-2 up from the primary leg, Man Metropolis can have been absolutely anticipated to complete the job in opposition to a Schalke aspect that ended up ending 14th within the German Bundesliga that season.

They fulfilled these expectations after which some, with goalkeeper Ralf Fahrmann crushed seven occasions as Metropolis strolled into the quarter-finals.

Sergio Aguero’s penalty received the ball rolling, with Metropolis refusing to carry again as they secured a 10-2 mixture victory.

4

Man Metropolis 7-0 RB Leipzig

2022/23, spherical of 16

A five-star efficiency from Erling Haaland was the important thing to this Man Metropolis rout in opposition to RB Leipzig, which secured the Residents a quarter-final berth on the way in which to profitable the match in 2022/23.

The tie had been within the stability previous to kick-off, as Josko Gvardiol’s equaliser in opposition to his future employers handed Metropolis a job to do to progress.

However Haaland’s 25-minute hat-trick put to mattress any hopes of a Leipzig shock, and scored two extra inside an hour of play earlier than Kevin De Bruyne added a of completion late on.

5

PSG 7-0 Brest

2024/25, knockout play-off spherical

Within the Champions League’s first knockout play-off spherical, PSG had been handed a tie in opposition to shock package deal Brest, who had adopted up their Third-place end in Ligue 1 with a powerful Champions League debut, inserting 18th within the model new league part above the likes of Juventus and Manchester Metropolis.

However their fairytale run was to be short-lived after being torn aside by their home rivals, mercilessly refusing to let up after their 3-0 first-leg victory in Brest.

Seven completely different goalscorers received in on the act, together with January signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Bradley Barcola.

6

Man Utd 7-1 Roma

2006/07, quarter-final

Manchester United needed to overcome a 2-1 first-leg defeat by Roma at Outdated Trafford, however the consequence hardly ever regarded doubtful.

Three targets within the opening 20 minutes left the Pink Devils firmly in management, with Michael Carrick and Cristiano Ronaldo bagging braces.

Daniele De Rossi’s away aim was scant comfort because the Italian aspect had been unceremoniously dispatched from the competitors.

7

Bayern Munich 7-1 Sporting CP

2008/09, spherical of 16

Bayern Munich’s last-16 victory over Sporting CP in 2009 was a historic one, with their 12-1 mixture scoreline a file profitable margin within the Champions League.

Their first-leg 5-0 win away from dwelling, which included two targets from Luca Toni, was simply the second time a crew had gained so handsomely within the knockout rounds, following Lyon’s 7-2 win over Werder Bremen in 2005.

Regardless of their current dominance on the scoreline, Bayern hammered Sporting as soon as once more on the Allianz Area, with Lukas Podolski, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mark van Bommel, Miroslav Klose and Thomas Muller all benefiting from the leakiest of defences.

8

Barcelona 7-1 Bayer Leverkusen

2011/12, spherical of 16

Barcelona had been at their ruthless greatest of their last-16 knockout tie in opposition to Bayer Leverkusen in 2012, with Lionel Messi on the peak of his powers throughout a chastening night time at Camp Nou for the guests.

Already trailing 3-1 from the primary leg, any hopes of a comeback had been denied by Messi’s first-half double, whereas the magician was in no temper to cease there, bagging a hat-trick after the interval.

It meant Cristian Tello’s personal brace was largely overshadowed by Messi’s five-goal haul, though the holders would ultimately be knocked out within the semi-finals.

9

Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich

2019/20, quarter-final

Eight years on from their file Champions League victory, Barcelona had been on the receiving finish of a European thrashing for a change.

Performed as a single knockout match because of the competitors’s restructure following the pandemic, only one aim would have been sufficient for Bayern to progress at Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz.

In reality, Bayern by no means stopped as soon as they’d smelled blood, and regardless of being pegged again by David Alaba’s personal aim simply minutes after stepping into entrance, Hansi Flick’s aspect raced right into a 4-1 half-time lead.

A repeat efficiency adopted within the second, with a double from Barcelona loanee Philippe Coutinho including insult to damage as Bayern inflicted one of many worst defeats within the Catalan giants’ historical past.

10

Bayern Munich 7-1 RB Salzburg

2021/22, spherical of 16

After a last-minute equaliser from Kingsley Coman saved Bayern from an embarrassing first-leg defeat, they did not precisely maintain again as soon as they welcomed RB Salzburg again to the Allianz Area.

Robert Lewandowski scored the quickest Champions League hat-trick from kick-off after netting 3 times within the opening 23 minutes, with Serge Gnabry netting quickly after to place the tie past any lingering doubt.

Thomas Muller received concerned (once more) with two targets of his personal earlier than Leroy Sane notched a seventh late on to place the cap on a depressing night time for the Austrian outfit.

11

PSV 1-7 Arsenal

2024/25, spherical of 16

Numerous the build-up to Arsenal’s Champions League tie with PSV was centred on the Gunners’ lack of attacking menace, with Mikel Arteta’s aspect left with none of their senior attackers for a lot of weeks.

However that hardly mattered after they swept PSV apart, with Arsenal securing their greatest European victory away from dwelling since beating Commonplace Liege 7-0 in 1993 within the Cup Winners’ Cup.

The Gunners’ 7-1 first-leg win – courtesy of targets from Jurrien Timber, Ethan Nwaneri, Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard, Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori – can be the most important away win within the historical past of the Champions League knockout phases.