Barcelona delivered a Champions League performance for the ages, completing an incredible comeback from 2-4 down to win 5-4 against Benfica in a dramatic finish. The night’s hero? Brazilian winger Raphinha, whose 96th-minute winner sealed Barcelona’s place in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.
A Nightmare Start for Barcelona
The match couldn’t have started worse for Barcelona. In the second minute, Benfica’s Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis capitalized on a defensive lapse to open the scoring. While Robert Lewandowski managed to equalize from the penalty spot ten minutes later, Barcelona’s troubles had only begun.
A disastrous sequence followed:
- Pavlidis struck again, exploiting an error by goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to score into an empty net.
- Minutes later, he completed his hat-trick with a calm penalty conversion, leaving Barcelona 3-1 down in under half an hour.
The first half ended with Barcelona looking out of ideas, their Round of 16 hopes hanging by a thread.
Raphinha Sparks the Comeback
The second half brought renewed energy for Barcelona, but it wasn’t until the 64th minute that hope began to flicker. A poor goal kick by Benfica allowed Raphinha to intercept and head home, making it 2-3. Yet, just as momentum seemed to shift, a tragic own goal by Ronald Araujo put Barcelona back at 2-4.
But this Barcelona side had no intention of going quietly.
Late Drama: Three Goals in 20 Minutes
The comeback kicked into high gear:
- Lewandowski’s Second Penalty: In the 78th minute, Barcelona were awarded another penalty, and Lewandowski made no mistake, narrowing the gap to 3-4.
- Eric Garcia’s Equalizer: With four minutes of regulation time remaining, defender Eric Garcia headed in a pinpoint cross from Pedri, leveling the score at 4-4.
- Raphinha’s Moment of Glory: Despite only four minutes of stoppage time being added, Barcelona capitalized on a counter-attack from a Benfica corner. Raphinha, showing incredible composure, cut inside from the right flank and slotted home the dramatic winner in the 96th minute.
Barcelona’s Triumph
The victory marked a significant milestone:
- Barcelona became the second team, after Liverpool, to secure their place in the Champions League Round of 16.
- The win propelled them to second place in their group standings under coach Hansi Flick, who praised the team’s resilience.
A Game to Remember
From a woeful start to a breathtaking finish, Barcelona’s comeback embodied the drama and unpredictability of the Champions League. With Raphinha and Lewandowski leading the charge, this match won’t just be remembered for its result but for the unrelenting spirit that brought Barcelona back from the brink.
Video Source : Sports Extra from Youtube
