In a thrilling match on Tuesday, Barcelona overcame a deficit to defeat Benfica 5–4 and all but guarantee automatic qualification to the Champions League round of 16.
Raphinha scored the game-winning goal in stoppage time. With less than fifteen minutes left, Benfica had a 4-2 lead, but Barcelona pulled off a spectacular comeback to trail leaders Liverpool by three points.
Wojciech Szczesny, the goalkeeper for Barcelona, made two crucial mistakes that contributed to Vangelis Pavlidis’ hat-trick for the home team in the first half.
However, Barcelona won a thrilling victory in Lisbon thanks to a brace for Raphinha, a header from Eric Garcia, and two goals from Robert Lewandowski from the penalty spot.
Raphinha informed Movistar, “We knew how hard it would be here, in front of their fans, and they know how to play really well, they have top level players.” When we were behind 3-1, we didn’t allow it get to us because we were focused on what we needed to do to try to turn the tide of the match.
Everyone thought the game was amazing. We could have won, or they could have, but we prevailed. In the second minute, Benfica took the lead when Pavlidis got past Pau Cubarsi and scored from a low cross by Alvaro Carreras.
After Benfica defender Tomas Araujo pulled down Alejandro Balde, Barcelona quickly reacted with a penalty kick from Lewandowski.
Szczesny sprinted out of his goal to attempt and cut out a through-ball, but he crashed into Balde, giving the home team a fortunate lead again.
Pavlidis, a Greece international, gathered the loose ball with joy and rolled his second into the empty net.
Barcelona quickly fell further behind after luring Szczesny out of retirement in October to replace Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who was injured.
After another Szczesny error, Pavlidis scored a penalty to complete his half-hour hat-trick. The goalie flew in to try to knock down Kerem Akturkoglu but was unable to do so. Barcelona fights back, Barcelona pushed forward before halftime, but Lamine Yamal and Raphinha squandered fantastic chances.
Lewandowski was unable to turn home Pedri’s risky ball across the face of goal, and Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin stopped Jules Kounde from scoring.
Trubin’s clearing hit Raphinha’s head on the edge of the area and sent it flying back into the net, giving Barcelona a strange comeback.
But Benfica quickly scored again when Ronald Araujo attempted to cut out a cross and nudged past Szczesny into his own net. After Nicolas Otamendi took down Yamal, Barcelona continued to press, and Lewandowski scored another penalty.
When Garcia, a substitute, headed home from Pedri’s inviting cross, the Catalan powerhouses, who last won the Champions League in 2015, pulled even. Prior to Raphinha’s thrilling victory, Szczesny stopped former Real Madrid player Angel Di Maria’s low shot.
Barcelona launched a swift breakaway after Benfica called for a penalty, and the Brazilian winger tapped home to end an exciting match.
After the exciting conclusion, tensions erupted, and players from both teams clashed after the final whistle. “It ruins your plans to fall behind in the second minute,” Garcia remarked. “The team demonstrated an amazing mindset.”