Barcelona staged a remarkable comeback at Estádio da Luz, overcoming a 4-2 deficit to snatch a thrilling 5-4 victory in a UEFA Champions League clash that will go down as one of the most dramatic of the season.
Benfica, determined to turn their poor UCL form around, made an explosive start when Fredrik Aursnes’ cross set up Vangelis Pavlidis for a close-range finish.
Barcelona quickly responded, winning a penalty after Tomás Araújo tripped Alejandro Balde, with Robert Lewandowski coolly converting.
However, the match quickly descended into chaos for the visitors as goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny made two costly errors—first charging out of his box to collide with Balde, allowing Pavlidis to score his second, then bringing down Kerem Aktürkoğlu to give the Greek striker the chance to complete his hat-trick.
Despite the setbacks, Barcelona managed to stabilize before halftime, and the second half saw them mount a determined response.
A series of missed chances, including a mis-hit from Jules Koundé and a wild shot over the bar from Lamine Yamal, left the score at 4-2 as Barcelona desperately sought a way back.
Manager Hansi Flick made key substitutions that sparked life into his team.
The turnaround began when Raphinha’s header from a long goal kick inadvertently beat Benfica’s goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin.
But just when it seemed Barcelona were gaining momentum, another twist occurred: a deflected cross from Andreas Schjelderup made it 4-3 in favor of Benfica, as Ronald Araújo’s attempted clearance found its own net.
Yet Barcelona refused to surrender, and after a penalty was awarded for a foul on Yamal by Nicolás Otamendi, Lewandowski scored his second penalty of the night to level things at 4-4.
In the final moments, the drama reached its peak. Pedri delivered a pinpoint cross that Eric García converted at the back post, giving Barcelona the lead for the first time in the match.
As Benfica pushed forward in search of an equalizer, a penalty shout was waved away, and Raphinha sealed the victory with a breakaway goal in injury time.
In the end, it was a victory born from sheer determination and a relentless refusal to give in.
Barcelona’s resilience ensured they emerged victorious, keeping their qualification hopes alive and leaving Benfica in deep trouble.
This match will certainly be remembered for its twists, turns, and sheer unpredictability.
For Barcelona, it’s a crucial step towards securing a spot in the knockout rounds, while Benfica faces an uphill battle to make it out of the group stages.
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Benfica, determined to turn their poor UCL form around, made an explosive start when Fredrik Aursnes’ cross set up Vangelis Pavlidis for a close-range finish.
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