5 teams who overturned daunting 1st-leg Champions League deficits

The comeback was complete with less than 15 minutes remaining in the contest.

Cristiano Ronaldo was the hero once again as he fired Real Madrid into the semi-finals of the Champions League for the sixth straight season after scoring three goals to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit against VfL Wolfsburg.

The 3-2 victory marked just the third time in Champions League history that a team has successfully overturned a two-goal deficit without the luxury of scoring an away goal in the first leg.

Here's a look a five of the greatest comebacks in the tournament's illustrious history:

2000 - Barcelona 6-4 Chelsea (First Leg: 1-3)

Champions League football isn't just a product of the Roman Abramovich era. Chelsea's first appearance in the modern format of the competition came near the end of the 20th century when the club surprised many and earned itself a date with Barcelona in the quarter-finals.

The surprises didn't end with just a berth to the knockout stage, as Chelsea went on to collect a stunning 3-1 victory over Barca. Celebrations didn't last long, though, as legends Rivaldo, Luis Figo, and Patrick Kluivert helped Barca end Chelsea's Champions League dream with a thorough 5-1 thrashing at the Camp Nou.

2004 - Deportivo 5-4 AC Milan (1-4)

Miracle might be the best way to describe Deportivo's come-from-behind victory over the defending Champions League champions, AC Milan.

The Serie A side looked destined for a place in the semi-finals after its 4-1 triumph over Deportivo, before disaster struck in the return leg.

Milan looked to be well on its way to the semis until Deportivo's relentless attack saw the Spanish side go ahead on aggregate by the time the halftime whistle sounded off. AC Milan couldn't produce an answer during the second frame and saw the Spanish finish the tie with four goals to complete the unlikely comeback.

2004 - AS Monaco* 5-5 Real Madrid (2-4)

Just under two years removed from its ninth European crown, Real Madrid looked to be well on its way to a fifth straight semi-final following its 3-1 victory over AS Monaco at the Santiago Bernabeu.

But La Decima was not meant to be, as Monaco beat the odds and found the back of the net three times to beat Real 3-1, and advance to the semis on away goals after putting two past Iker Casillas in Madrid.

2013 - Barcelona 4-2 AC Milan (0-2)

Barcelona added its name to the history books with its 4-0 victory over AC Milan, as the Spanish side became the first team to overturn a two-goal deficit without scoring an away goal in the first game.

The Italians were undone by Lionel Messi's first-half brace, and David Villa put the final nail in the coffin minutes after the break. Barca, however, were knocked out two rounds later in embarrassing fashion when Bayern Munich registered a 7-0 aggregate win.

2014 - Manchester United 3-2 Olympiacos (0-2)

Although legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson retired a season before, Manchester United continued his tradition of producing memorable comeback wins when it became the second team to overcome a scoreless, two-goal first-leg deficit to knock Olympiacos out of the tournament.

It was utter disaster for the Red Devils in Greece, but Robin van Persie endeared himself to supporters when his hat-trick at Old Trafford ensured United a place in the quarter-finals.