remontada

Remontada is a Spanish term used in sports, especially football, to denote a comeback in which a team overturns a deficit to win or advance. The word derives from remontar, meaning to climb back or rise again, and the noun remontada specifically refers to this reversal of fortune in a match or knockout tie.

In football, a remontada typically occurs in knockout competitions when the attacking team overturns an unfavorable aggregate score or a large first-leg deficit in a later leg or extra time. It is often celebrated for its dramatic tension and symbolic reversal of momentum, though not every comeback meets the social and media expectations attached to the term.

Among the most famous remontadas are FC Barcelona's 2017 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, in which Barcelona overturned a 4-0 first-leg deficit to win 6-1 and advance 6-5 on aggregate. Another notable example is Liverpool's 2019 Champions League semi-final progression, where they defeated Barcelona 4-0 at Anfield after a 3-0 first-leg loss, advancing 4-3 on aggregate.

The term has entered broader sports discourse and is used in Spanish- and Portuguese-language media worldwide. It underscores the emotional and strategic drama of professional sports, where persistence, tactical adjustments, and timing can overturn seemingly insurmountable odds.

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