Everybody loves a good underdog story – especially in the Champions League.
Every so often, a team rips up the script and goes on a run that nobody saw coming. These are the underdogs who lit up Europe’s biggest stage.
10) Leicester 2016/17
Fresh from the greatest Premier League title shock of all time, Leicester carried the dream into Europe under Claudio Ranieri (and later Craig Shakespeare). Jamie Vardy’s relentless pressing, Riyad Mahrez’s flair and Kasper Schmeichel’s penalty saves helped them top their group. They stunned Sevilla in the Round of 16 before Atletico Madrid proved too strong. Even so, Leicester proved their fairy tale wasn’t confined to England.
9) Roma 2017/18
Eusebio Di Francesco’s Roma looked dead and buried after a 4-1 first leg defeat at Camp Nou. Edin Džeko, Daniele De Rossi and Kostas Manolas inspired a 3-0 miracle comeback at home that remains one of the most iconic performances in Champions League history.
Even the semi-final defeat to Liverpool was iconic. 5-2 down after the first leg, Roma looked set to complete another legendary comeback after two late goals from Radja Nainggolan. Instead, Liverpool were able to hold out and secure a 7-6 victory on aggregate.
8) Schalke 2010/11
Felix Magath started the season, but it was Ralf Rangnick who guided Schalke’s shock run. With Manuel Neuer producing outrageous saves, Raúl proving his class and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scoring big goals, Schalke embarrassed holders Inter Milan with a 7-3 aggregate demolition in the quarter-finals. They reached the semis before United ended the ride, but their chaos-fuelled run was unforgettable.
7) Villarreal 2005/06
Led by Manuel Pellegrini, this side revolved around the genius of Juan Román Riquelme. Marcos Senna anchored midfield, while Diego Forlán provided the goals. They edged past Rangers and Inter Milan before running into Arsenal in the semi-finals. Riquelme’s missed penalty in the dying minutes is still one of the Champions League’s iconic “what if” moments.
6) Lyon 2019/20
Rudi Garcia’s Lyon shocked everyone in the COVID knockout season. Memphis Depay, Houssem Aouar and Moussa Dembélé led the charge as they dumped out a Juventus side featuring Cristiano Ronaldo before stunning Guardiola’s City in the quarter-finals. Bayern Munich eventually knocked them out in the semi-finals, but not after Lyon had claimed two major European scalps.
5) Villarreal 2021/22
Arnaut Danjuma provided the goals. Pau Torres and Raúl Albiol were solid at the back. Étienne Capoue and Dani Parejo marshalled the midfield.
Late goals away from home secured impressive victories against Juventus and Bayern Munich in the knockout rounds. Liverpool eventually proved too strong in the semi-finals, but this Villarreal team was special.
4) Monaco 2003/04
Didier Deschamps, at just 35, masterminded one of the greatest surprise runs.
Fernando Morientes and Dado Pršo formed a lethal partnership up top. Ludovic Giuly was at his peak, darting through defences. Patrice Evra was a stalwart at the back.
Monaco dumped out Real Madrid and Chelsea in the knockouts, before being outclassed by Porto in the final.
3) Ajax 2018/19
Captained by a teenage Matthijs de Ligt, with Frenkie de Jong, Hakim Ziyech and Dusan Tadić pulling the strings, Ajax played fearless, fluid football under Erik ten Hag. Real Madrid were blown away at the Bernabéu and Juventus folded in the quarters. Only a last-minute strike from Lucas Moura stopped ten Hag’s young side from reaching the final.
The team that reminded Europe what Ajax DNA looks like.
2) Monaco 2016/17
Leonardo Jardim turned Monaco into Europe’s most exciting team.
Teenage Kylian Mbappé exploded onto the scene alongside Bernardo Silva, Thomas Lemar, Falcao and Fabinho.
Monaco beat Manchester City in a wild 6–6 aggregate round of 16 before blowing past Borussia Dortmund in the quarters. Their attacking flair lit up Europe before Juventus’ experience shut them down in the semi-finals.
1) Porto 2003/04
José Mourinho’s breakthrough season.
With Ricardo Carvalho, Deco and a clinical Benni McCarthy, Porto played smart, compact football that suffocated bigger opponents.
They knocked out Manchester United with Mourinho’s famous touchline sprint, brushed Lyon aside, held-out Deportivo in the semis and outclassed Monaco in the final.
Mourinho’s rise to “Special One” status began right here – the ultimate Champions League underdog story.
