Manchester United’s 3-2 victory over Roma has taken centre stage as another chapter in one of their greatest European nights.
For a club of United’s stature, breaking into the conversation about its greatest moments is no easy feat. However, a comeback from 2-0 down, inspired by a Brazilian winger and a young English academy graduate, firmly earns this result a place in that discussion.
That is not to suggest the first 45 minutes were anything other than a scene of misery and misfortune. An idle United side stood by as Roma ran riot.
Yet, as the clock ticked down to the fifth minute of added time and Mason Mount leathered the ball up the pitch, it was the Romans who fell in Manchester—to paraphrase Andy Mitten—as United snatched three much-needed points; their first win since September 10.
In coming back from a two-goal deficit, the Red Devils became the first club to overturn a two-goal deficit on four occasions in Champions League history, with three of those four comebacks coming against Italian sides.
But where does this match rank among United’s all-time victories over Roma?
5. Manchester United 1-0 Roma
Starting this list with one of the lowest-scoring encounters in the pair’s history is Manchester United’s 1-0 victory over Roma in the quarter-finals of the 2007/08 Champions League.
Carlos Tevez struck the only goal of the match, a diving header that flew past Brazilian goalkeeper Doni, as United went on to face Barcelona in the semi-finals.
Having already established a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, Tevez’s goal put any lingering doubts to bed, but the match could have taken a very different course.
Roma should have taken the lead from the penalty spot following a foul by Wes Brown, but Daniele De Rossi blazed his effort high over the crossbar in the 29th minute.
United would go on to beat Barcelona by the same scoreline, with Paul Scholes’ solitary goal ensuring they reached their second final in nine years, where they would lift their third—and, for now, final—Champions League title.
4. Roma 0-2 Manchester United
The reverse fixture of the 1-0 victory, this result ranks higher because winning away from home will always present a greater challenge than playing at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side stunned the Stadio Olimpico, with Cristiano Ronaldo heading home in the 39th minute—for what was already his 36th goal of the season in April—before Wayne Rooney put United 2-0 ahead in the 66th minute.
Despite what appeared to be relatively plain sailing, Edwin van der Sar had to come to the rescue, producing a miraculous save in the 60th minute to prevent Mirko Vucinic from levelling the tie.
The 2-0 victory would allow United to head into the home leg with some breathing room.
3. Manchester United 3-2 Roma
It may be surprising to see Manchester United’s result from last night sitting slap-bang in the middle of this list, but, despite the extraordinary comeback, there is no overlooking the rigid, stale performance in the first half that we have become accustomed to in recent weeks.
Out of possession, United looked lost. Diogo Dalot was wildly out of position for both of Roma’s goals, while the defence looked as though it was playing together for the first time. Coupled with the fact that not one player could properly test Roma’s third-choice goalkeeper, Devis Vasquez, who was making his first-ever appearance for the club, the performance only raised further questions.
By the time Spanish official Jesus Gil Manzano blew the final whistle, there had been protests, pain and pandemonium inside Old Trafford—this time paraphrasing Simon Peach.
Yes, it is one of the greatest comebacks in the club's history, and whilst fans should take pride and joy in a win of this magnitude, one result does not change 21 years of mismanagement.
2. Manchester United 6-2 Roma
One of the most electrifying fixtures of football I have witnessed in my lifetime, across the two legs, a total of 13 goals were scored.
The first leg at Old Trafford was a phenomenal encounter. United found themselves 2-1 behind at half-time, with Lorenzo Pellegrini and Edin Dzeko overturning Bruno Fernandes’ opener.
However, United emerged for the second half with renewed inspiration, scoring five unanswered goals as Edinson Cavani struck twice, Fernandes added his second from the penalty spot, while Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood also found the net in an authoritative 6-2 victory.
United would go on to lose the second leg 3-2, but had already booked their place in the final by that point, eventually suffering defeat to Villarreal in a penalty shootout, losing 11-10 in one of the club’s worst European nights.
Had that group of players gone on to beat the Spanish side, there is a chance it could have moved to number one in this list.
1. Manchester United 7-1 Roma
There truly could only be one result at the top of this list, and it is, of course, Manchester United’s 7-1 victory over Roma in the second leg of their 2006/07 Champions League quarter-final.
Having lost 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico, United were already under pressure, but to say they ran riot would be an understatement.
They raced into a 3-0 lead within the first 20 minutes, with goals from Alan Smith, Wayne Rooney and current manager Michael Carrick. Things did not end there, however, as Ronaldo added a brace, Carrick scored his second of the night, and Patrice Evra calmly dispatched United’s seventh goal of the evening as Ferguson’s men celebrated in jubilation.
Daniele De Rossi would add a consolation for Roma, but it did little to soften the blow of what remains one of the heaviest defeats in the club’s history.
United would go on to lose to AC Milan in the semi-final, with Brazilian playmaker Kaka running rings around the United defence as he led the Italian side to their seventh European Cup title, beating United’s rivals Liverpool 2-1 in the process.
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