Barcelona pulled off a stunning comeback against Benfica, winning 5-4 in the UEFA Champions League match held on Tuesday at Estadio da Luz, Lisbon. The match featured multiple lead changes and dramatic moments, securing Barcelona's spot in the knockout stages of the competition.
The night began explosively with Benfica's Vangelis Pavlidis scoring just two minutes after kick-off. He latched onto a low cross from Alvaro Carreras, showcasing quick reflexes. It set the tone for what would become one of the most chaotic matches of the tournament.
Barcelona quickly responded; Robert Lewandowski coolly converted a penalty after the referee awarded the spot-kick for Tomas Araújo's foul on Alejandro Balde. The equalizer was short-lived, as Wojciech Szczesny, who was making his first appearance after being brought out of retirement to cover for the injured Marc-André ter Stegen, had two massive blunders.
The first error saw Szczesny rushing out to intercept the ball but inadvertently colliding with his teammate Balde, leaving Pavlidis with the simplest of finishes to regain the lead for Benfica. Just moments later, he conceded another penalty after tripping Kerem Akturkoglu, allowing Pavlidis to secure his hat-trick, putting Benfica up 3-1 before the half.
Not to be outdone, Barcelona came out fighting after half-time. Raphinha managed to score one of the season's strangest goals. A clearance from Benfica goalkeeper Anatolii Trubin ricocheted off Raphinha's head, flying back over the keeper and trickling majestically to bring Barcelona back to 3-2.
Barcelona would soon find themselves behind again after Ronald Araújo's unfortunate own goal restored Benfica's two-goal advantage. Nevertheless, the spirit of Barcelona shined through, with Lewandowski converting another penalty shortly after, thanks to Nicolas Otamendi's foul on 15-year-old Lamine Yamal.
With the clock ticking down, Barcelona found new life. Substitute Eric Garcia headed home from Pedri's expert cross, equalizing the match at 4-4 with only three minutes left on the clock.
Then, with mere seconds to go, Raphinha struck the decisive blow. Following Benfica's appeals for what they considered a foul inside the penalty area, Barcelona counter-attacked quickly. Raphinha found space, cut inside, and slotted the ball past Trubin to clinch the win.
After the final whistle, tempers flared on the pitch, leading to confrontations between players, with on-site police needing to intervene to restore order. Raphinha commented on the thrilling atmosphere, stating, "We knew how hard it would be here, with their fans, and they know how to play really well, they have top-level players. It was a spectacular game for everyone. They could have won, or us, but we managed to take it."
Barcelona’s head coach, Hansi Flick, expressed pride in his team's resilience, saying, "It was crazy game... we made a lot of mistakes, but the mentality of the team, they always believe in themselves and this was unbelievable to see. We created more chances than them and we deserved it.”
Despite the victory, the tension following the match was palpable, as Benfica manager Bruno Lage was reportedly furious with his team's performance, particularly Szczesny's errors. The aftermath saw players clashing again as they headed to the tunnel, demonstrating just how charged the match had been.
This match not only keeps Barcelona on track for the knockout stages but also serves as a reminder of their storied ability to overcome adversity, even against strong opposition. With their goal difference boosted, they trail Liverpool by only three points, setting up for thrilling future encounters as the Champions League progresses.