Ranking the 10 best matches of 2017

With another year in the books, theScore takes a look back and ranks the most thrilling contests from the last 12 months:

10. Benevento 2-2 AC Milan: Dec. 3

It wasn’t a classic spectacle, but the result will go down in Serie A lore as Italian minnow Benevento captured its first-ever point in the top flight at the expense of one of the country’s most storied teams, AC Milan. After setting the record for the worst start to a season in Europe’s top five leagues by losing its opening 14 contests, Benevento finally gave its fans something to smile about when goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli’s dramatic 95th-minute equaliser secured the historic point.

9. Arsenal 1-3 Manchester United: Dec. 2

Antonio Valencia’s opener in the 11th minute quickly sucked the excitement out of the Emirates Stadium when Manchester United visited Arsenal in early December. However, supporters in attendance couldn’t have asked for much more over the the next 79 minutes as Arsenal desperately attempted to mount a comeback only to be denied by a superb display from David De Gea, who tied the record for saves made (14) by a goalkeeper in a single Premier League match.

8. Roma 3-2 Lazio: April 4

Roma was left heartbroken after a scintillating contest with local rival Lazio in the Coppa Italia semi-finals, which saw the two sides play out one of the more memorable cup matches of the season. Lazio’s 2-0 aggregate lead looked safe until Roma poured on the pressure, with Mohammed Salah leading the charge for the Giallorossi. Yet, his stoppage time winner wasn’t enough as earlier goals from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Ciro Immobile maintained the Aquile’s aggregate advantage.

7. Arsenal 3-3 Liverpool: Dec. 22

Five minutes is all Arsenal needed to erase a two-goal deficit before taking the lead on a stunned Liverpool. A minute after Salah put the Reds up 2-0 to begin the second frame, goals from Alexis Sanchez, Granit Xhaka, and Mesut Ozil saw the host grab a 3-2 lead. However, Roberto Firmino prevented the home side from capturing three points when his powerful effort found its way into the back of the net.

6. RB Leipzig 4-5 Bayern Munich: May 13

With hopes of completing a dream debut season in Germany’s top flight with a Bundesliga trophy already gone, RB Leipzig looked as though it was well on its way to securing a historic win over Bayern Munich. But the recently promoted club coughed up a pair of two-goal leads before Arjen Robben completed the spectacular comeback with a 95th-minute winner.

5. Manchester City 5-3 AS Monaco: Feb. 21

The Kylian Mbappe coming-out party was in full swing when AS Monaco paid a visit to the Etihad Stadium to take on Manchester City in the Champions League round of 16. But, after the French teenager put Monaco up 2-1, City stormed back with four goals in the second half. Monaco produced a similarly heroic performance in the return match and progressed on away goals after bringing the aggregate score level at 6-6 after 180 minutes.

4. Real Madrid 2-3 Barcelona: April 23

The final Clasico of the 2016-17 season didn’t disappoint. With Real Madrid enjoying an advantage atop the table with just a handful of matches remaining, the capital city appeared as though it would avoid a loss when James Rodriguez cancelled out Ivan Rakitic’s go-ahead goal. Lionel Messi had other plans, as the Argentine scored a dramatic winner in stoppage time before celebrating with his top held up for the adoring Barcelona fans perched up high at the Santiago Bernabeu.

3. Panama 2-1 Costa Rica

Panama’s victory to clinch a spot in the 2018 World Cup may be best remembered for the phantom goal that brought the country level with Costa Rica. But it’s Roman Torres’ goal with three minutes left that ultimately sent supporters into a frenzy as the nation’s victory, combined with the United States’ loss to Trinidad and Tobago, secured Panama’s place in the sport’s marquee event for the first time ever.

2. Borussia Dortmund 4-4 Schalke: Nov. 25

Derbies don’t get much better than the eight-goal thriller in the season’s first Revierderby. Borussia Dortmund was cruising after 25 minutes up 4-0, as the club attempted to end a five-match winless run. Hopes of grabbing three points began to dwindle after the hour mark. Guido Burgstaller’s goal was followed by another two before Naldo capped off the fireworks with an equaliser in the fourth minute of injury time.

1. Barcelona 6-1 Paris Saint-Germain: March 8

Paris Saint-Germain looked destined to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League after thumping Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg – a deficit no team had overturned in the competition. Even as the Blaugrana cut the aggregate score to 5-3, there were few who thought Luis Enrique’s men were capable of overturning the tie. That’s until Neymar’s brace brought the Camp Nou to life before Sergi Roberto completed the unbelievable comeback with a lunging volley to give Barcelona the unlikeliest of victories.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)