Barcelona secured a thrilling victory over Benfica with a stunning 5-4 scoreline during the Champions League match held on January 21, 2025. The match, held at Benfica's home ground, Estadio da Luz, was marked by intense back-and-forth scoring, showcasing the attacking talents of both teams.
The game started dramatically, with Benfica snatching the lead just two minutes after kickoff. Vangelis Pavlidis found the net, capitalizing on defensive errors from Barcelona. While it was a rude awakening for the Catalan giants, they quickly responded when Robert Lewandowski converted a penalty to equalize the score at 1-1 just 13 minutes later.
Despite the early setback, Benfica continued to impress. They regained the lead at the 22-minute mark when Pavlidis scored again after a mix-up between Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny and defender Alejandro Balde. This goal, stemming from poor communication, sent the home fans wild.
Benfica was not finished yet; Pavlidis completed his hat-trick at the 30-minute mark with another penalty, making it 3-1. Trouble seemed to loom for Barcelona as they looked overwhelmed by the Benfica attack. Yet, the visitors found their footing as the match progressed, closing the gap to 3-2 with Hifinha’s goal following another defensive blunder from Benfica.
Just when it seemed Barcelona was turning the tide, they faced another setback. An own goal from Ronald Araujo made the score 4-2, putting Benfica firmly back on top. But Barcelona's determination shone through, and Lewandowski scored his second penalty of the night, narrowing the gap to 4-3.
The excitement continued to build as Barcelona equalized at 4-4 thanks to Eric Garcia’s header from a brilliant cross by Pedri. The chances were sparking hope for the visitors, who had engaged their backup players and changed strategies as they aimed to secure qualification to the knockout stages.
Holding on for what looked like would be another stalemate, Barcelona made one final push. The dynamic Hifinha found space and unleashed a powerful shot deep within injury time, sealing the match at 5-4, much to the relief and joy of the Barcelona supporters.
This thrilling result reinforced Barcelona's position through the league phase with their record now standing at 6 wins and 1 loss, ensuring they move on to the Round of 16 alongside group leaders Liverpool. Meanwhile, Benfica's struggling campaign continues as they were left hoping for redemption in their remaining fixtures.
Barcelona's head coach, Hansi Flick, praised the team's resilience after the match, saying, "It wasn't easy, but the players showed incredible character to fight back. We have the quality and determination, and it paid off tonight. Hifinha's late winner was magnificent; he’s proving to be pivotal for us this season."
Despite the loss, Benfica's coach highlighted the positives they could take from the match. "We showed we can compete. Unfortunately, mistakes cost us, but with performances like this, we can build on them for the future. Pavlidis was exceptional, and we have talents who can shine," he commented.
With the Champions League heating up, both teams will look to regroup and focus on their upcoming challenges, knowing full well the stakes as they pursue glory on the European stage.