Barcelona delivered one of the most thrilling matches of the season on January 21, 2025, overcoming Benfica 5-4 at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon. The match was not just notable for its dramatic scoreline but for the electrifying manner of Barcelona's comeback.
The hosts took control early on, with Evangelos Pavlidis from Benfica scoring a stunning hat-trick by the 30th minute. His first goal came just two minutes after kickoff, leaving Barcelona's defense rattled. Then, he added two more by the 30th minute, with the latter being from the penalty spot after foul play by Barcelona's goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny.
Barcelona was left reeling at 3-1 at halftime but refused to back down. Robert Lewandowski sparked hope for the Catalan side, scoring from the penalty spot in the 13th minute, and providing the first glimpse of their fighting spirit.
After the break, Barcelona's Raphinha reduced the deficit to 3-2, igniting the visitors' ambitions of staging a significant comeback. But the match took yet another twist when Ronald Araujo inadvertently scored an own goal for Benfica, making it 4-2. The moment seemed to seal the match for Benfica, whose players celebrated with vigor.
Yet, Barcelona continued to push. Lewandowski found the net again from the penalty spot in the 77th minute, narrowing the gap to 4-3, and giving Barcelona new life. Time was running out, and desperation hung thickly over the pitch, but the visitors remained relentless.
Just when it seemed all hope was lost, Eric Garcia scored the equalizer for Barcelona with just four minutes remaining, sending their fans and the benches, located just behind the goals, roaring with excitement.
The climax of the match arrived during stoppage time. With the match clock reading 90+6, Raphinha struck once again, scoring the decisive goal and sealing the miraculous comeback at 5-4 for Barcelona. The despair on the faces of Benfica players was palpable, especially from their bench, which erupted with protests. Their forward Arthur Cabral received a red card for his reaction, highlighting the emotional stakes at play.
This remarkable victory extended Barcelona's winning streak in the Champions League to six consecutive matches, securing their second position with 18 points. By stark comparison, Benfica remains firmly at the bottom of the table, claiming just 10 points from their matches.
Meanwhile, the day saw Liverpool maintain their dominance at the top of the Champions League with their victory over Lille, illustrating the intensely competitive nature of this season. After their incredible struggle against Benfica, Barcelona will certainly aim to build on this momentum as they move forward.
The match served as both a powerful statement about Barcelona's resilience and the fierce competition within the Champions League, showcasing football’s capacity to surprise and enthrall its audience.