Top 10 most humiliating defeats in UEFA Champions League
By Sachin Bhat
Real Madrid 1-4 Ajax (March 2019)
Madrid’s stronghold in Europe after the historic ‘three-peat’ was quashed ruthlessly by an inspired Ajax side in the 4-1 humiliation at home last year, marking their earliest exit in the Champions League in nine years. The sudden departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane in the preceding summer had taken its toll on Los Blancos, who were enduring an atrocious season until then but hit an all-time nadir when the young and boisterous Dutch outfit completely dismantled the two-time defending champions.
Manchester United 7-1 AS Roma (April 2007)
In the era of Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United was a different beast. It secured two titles and also registered some really big wins against Europe’s top shouts, the biggest of all being the 7-1 shellacking of Roma. A 2-1 loss in Rome in the first-leg left the Red Devils with all to do at the Old Trafford, and they not only turned the tie around, but they also wiped the floor with the Gialorrossi on the back of an amazing brace by Cristiano Ronaldo.
AS Roma 1-7 Bayern Munich (October 2014)
It was groundhog day for Roma, seven years after the Old Trafford-capitulation when Bayern Munich came to town and ran the rings around them in another embarrassing 7-1 loss. The Bavarians were rampant on the night, storming to a 5-0 lead inside the half-hour mark as Rudi Garcia’s men crumbled like a pack of cards. This was a team that finished second-best in Italy in the previous season just a few months ago, but Bayern made it look like a distant memory.
Tottenham Hotspur 2-7 Bayern Munich (October 2019)
Bayern Munich have been rampant all throughout the ongoing season but made its first big statement with the 7-2 mauling of Tottenham Hotspur, which eventually spelled the death knell for Mauricio Pochettino. The manager was on the tenterhooks after witnessing his project crumble game after game at the start of the 2019/20 season before the sword of Damocles was finally wielded after the abject loss to the Bavarians at home last October. Serge Gnabry was the chief tormentor that night, bagging four goals!