FC Barcelona pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in Champions League history on January 21, 2025, defeating Benfica 5-4 at the Estádio da Luz. This thrilling encounter not only showcased the grit and tenacity of the Catalan side but also marked their first victory over Benfica since 2012.
Barcelona entered this match needing to secure their position near the top of their group, hoping to capitalize on any slips from Liverpool, who were also playing against Lille. They garnered 15 points from their previous six matches, with five wins and just one loss. Benfica, trailing with 10 points, was equally desperate to maintain momentum and boost their qualification odds.
The match kicked off under the famous Champions League anthem, and it didn’t take long for the drama to commence. Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis opened the scoring just two minutes after kickoff, capitalizing on defensive lapses to find the net. Barcelona quickly responded with a penalty earned by Alejandro Balde when he was fouled by Tomás Araújo. Robert Lewandowski, as cool as ever, converted the penalty, marking his 86th successful spot-kick.
It seemed, for all intents and purposes, as if the tides would turn favorably for Barca. But disaster struck shortly afterward when Wojciech Szczesny mishandled the ball, leading to Benfica extending their lead thanks to another goal from Pavlidis. The Benfica striker completed his hat-trick with another penalty just before half-time, solidifying his team’s 3-1 lead.
At halftime, Barcelona found themselves with their backs against the wall. They needed to regroup and rethink their strategy to overcome the deficit. Hansi Flick’s halftime talk proved pivotal. He introduced changes, determined to instill fresh energy and belief. Fans and players alike were eager to see signs of the famed Barcelona spirit emerge.
Barcelona emerged from the break with renewed vigor. An unexpected turn came when Benfica’s goalkeeper, Anatoliy Trubin, miscalculated and dropped the ball right onto the unsuspecting Raphinha’s head, allowing the Brazilian to score and bring Barcelona within touching distance at 3-2.
But just when Barcelona seemed to seize control, they endured yet another setback. An unfortunate own goal by Ronald Araújo pushed the deficit back to two goals, making it 4-2 for Benfica. Many would leave it at this point, but not Barcelona. With just twelve minutes remaining, they found the fight within themselves to claw back once again.
Lewandowski stepped up, scoring his second penalty after Nicolás Otamendi fouled Lamine Yamal, tightening the score to 4-3. The game was alive again, and the atmosphere swelled with anticipation. Just when cameras thought Pereira’s goal was sealing the match for Benfica, the phenomenal Eric García headed home the equalizer minutes later, pushing it to 4-4 and sending the fans wild.
But the excitement didn't stop there. Barcelona wasn’t done yet. Another exhilarating moment saw Raphinha racing down the pitch, finishing with aplomb to complete the comeback and cap the score at 5-4. The roar of Barcelona’s fans echoed around the Estádio da Luz as hope and elation engulfed them.
After the match, Flick commented, "The mentality of the team, they always believe in themselves and this was unbelievable to see," encapsulating the spirit and determination his team demonstrated. The sheer drama of this game will surely be stitched forever within the memories of those who witnessed it.
This victory not only provided three important points for Barcelona, moving them to 18 points and solidifying their position near the top of the group but also came at the expense of Benfica’s hopes, who now need to fight harder to secure their place going forward.
Looking forward, FC Barcelona faces Valencia at home next as they strive to maintain momentum. Meanwhile, Benfica must regroup and refocus as they navigate their way through to the knockout stages of the competition.