[b]Barcelona[/b] produced one of the most thrilling comebacks in recent Champions League history, defeating [b]Benfica[/b] 5-4 in a pulsating encounter at the Estadio da Luz. The victory not only extended Barcelona’s unbeaten run in the competition but also secured their place in the tournament's last 16.
The game began on a challenging note for Barcelona as Benfica took an early lead. Vangelis Pavlidis opened the scoring with a clinical finish, converting a perfectly delivered cross from Álvaro Carreras. The hosts capitalized on Barcelona’s defensive frailties, setting the stage for a high-stakes contest.
Barcelona responded swiftly to Benfica’s opener. After a VAR review confirmed a foul on Alejandro Balde inside the penalty box, Robert Lewandowski stepped up and coolly slotted the ball into the net, bringing the scoreline to 1-1.
Despite regaining some control of the game, Barcelona found themselves trailing again. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, making his debut Champions League appearance for Barcelona, committed a costly error, gifting Pavlidis his second goal of the night.
The Greek striker didn’t stop there. He completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot following another mistake from Szczesny, leaving Barcelona trailing 3-1 and in desperate need of a response.
Determined to fight back, Barcelona clawed their way into the game. Raphinha sparked hope by scoring a bizarre goal off a deflected clearance, narrowing the deficit. Moments later, Lewandowski earned and converted his second penalty of the match, leveling the game at 3-3.
However, the drama was far from over. Ronald Araújo’s unfortunate own goal restored Benfica’s lead, making it 4-3. Barcelona refused to back down, and Eric Garcia’s towering header brought the score back to 4-4, setting up a nail-biting finale.
The decisive moment came in the dying minutes of the match. Raphinha, capitalizing on a swift counterattack, slotted home the winning goal, silencing the home crowd and securing a remarkable comeback victory for Barcelona.
Trailing 4-2 with just 15 minutes remaining, Barcelona’s resilience and determination earned them a memorable win. The three points ensured their progression to the knockout stages and underlined their credentials as serious contenders in the competition.