Real Madrid 1-3 Juventus: The greatest comeback that didn't happen in 2018

On 10 April 2018, AS Roma shocked the world by overturning a three-goal deficit against Barcelona at Stadio Olimpico, staging one of the greatest comebacks in Champions League history.

Many thought an act as dramatic or unexpected could never be repeated, but one team used that famous night as rocket fuel for their own mini-miracle.

Only one evening later, Juventus travelled to Santiago Bernabeu to take on reigning European champions Real Madrid, tasked with the daunting job of flipping a three-goal deficit of their own - albeit away from home.

If Roma's win over Barça was a story of David and Goliath, then this fairytale was David against Goliath's bigger, tougher and uglier brother. Madrid had rocked up to Turin eight days prior, cruised to a 3-0 win, and scored a goal of such mega proportions that it convinced Cristiano Ronaldo his job was done in the Spanish capital.

Juve knew that they had to score three goals without response only to force extra-time against Los Blancos, so as far as optimism goes, I Bianconeri were probably in short supply. But with the fall of one La Liga giant fresh in their minds, Massimiliano Allegri's men set out to write their own piece of history in this Champions League quarter-final.

Two minutes into this blockbuster clash, Madrid began to creak. Juve broke like lightning down the right flank, Sami Khedira floated a menacing cross towards the far post, and Mario Mandzukic threw himself at the ball to power home an unstoppable header.

A long way to go, but the belief was starting to drain from the hosts and flow through the visitors.

Zinedine Zidane's boys realised they needed to dampen these sparks of hope and went for the jugular. Gianluigi Buffon had to be at this best to keep out Gareth Bale's close-range strike, and performed similar heroics to stop Isco when clean through on goal.

And in this tribute to an NBA classic, Juve charged up the other end and punished Madrid in ruthless fashion. Stephan Lichtsteiner was fed the ball on the right flank, and like Khedira, he pulled out a cross from the top draw which hurtled towards the back stick.

Once again, Mandzukic was primed, waiting to plant his forehead on the delivery, and his finish snuck past Keylor Navas and into the near post. 2-0 with over half of the match to play and Los Blancos were seemingly in chaos.

Half time arrived, and we were all beginning to get those similar vibes from the night before - it's happening. Sure enough, the two teams felt the inevitability, too. Ronaldo couldn't find a way past Buffon and Higuain had similar issues with Navas, but the visitors would not be denied on the hour mark.

Douglas Costa whipped a dangerous in-swinging cross into the six-yard box, Navas fumbled his catch horribly, and the ball broke to Blaise Matuidi, all of two yards from goal. The Frenchman did the rest, setting up a grandstand finish.

Juve knew that one more goal would force Madrid to score two, and all signs were pointing towards the most unthinkable of comebacks. Ronaldo and Co rallied however, penning I Bianconeri back into their own half and forcing Buffon into a string of fine reaction saves.

Then, in the 93rd minute - heartbreak. Toni Kroos hung up a dinked pass into the far post, Ronaldo nodded a header across the six-yard box and Lucas Vazquez charged to latch onto the knockdown. With the whole goal to aim it, the Spaniard suddenly hit the deck under a clumsy challenge from behind by Mehdi Benatia.

Referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot, and chaos ensued. Juventus' backline swarmed the English official, clearly feeling robbed of their moment of glory. The red mist descended, and Buffon absolutely lost his mind, squaring up to Oliver and screaming in his face.

The official felt he had no choice other than to send Buffon off the pitch for his petulance, meaning I Bianconeri were now down to 10 men for the final seconds.

That didn't stop the experienced Italian from venting his anger. He had to be restrained like a raging bull, but after four minutes of protests, Juve resigned themselves to their fate, which now hinged on one kick of a football by Ronaldo.

"If you're able to give a penalty and a red card in the 93rd minute, it means that there is a rubbish bin in the place where your heart should be."

- Gigi Buffon

Not a position you'd wish to find yourself in. The Portuguese forward steadied himself, looked substitute shot-stopper Wojciech Szczesny in the eyes, and placed the ball well beyond the Pole and into the top corner.

In typical fashion, Ronaldo whipped off his shirt, flexed his muscles and broke hearts all over Italy.

That 97th minute strike gave Madrid a 4-3 advantage on aggregate, sending them through to the Champions League semi-final and ending I Bianconeri's dreams of lifting the European trophy for another season.

How did Juventus - and more accurately Buffon - take the last-gasp heartbreak? Not well, you'd have to admit.

"If a referee doesn't have the courage and personality to manage a game on the pitch, then he should sit in the stands alongside his wife and have some chips," Buffon started.

"In the last seconds of stoppage time, the referee can't award a penalty that is extremely doubtful. He can't just destroy everything like that.

"The referee did what he had to do: the problem is just that. He had no sensibility, no serenity. It means you don't know where you are, what teams you face, what football is: you don't really know sh*it."

Of course, as a man who has undoubtedly been on the right end of an infinite number of last minute penalties as Juve goalkeeper, he should probably know better than to try to ban that aspect from the sport...

It was a painful blow for the Italian giants, but a match that will live long in the memory of football lovers all over the world.