In a match filled with twists and turns, Barcelona secured a place in the UEFA Champions League last 16 with a sensational 5-4 comeback victory over Benfica on Tuesday. Raphinha's stoppage-time goal crowned an extraordinary performance at the Estádio da Luz, where the Catalan giants overcame a two-goal halftime deficit.
The game began unfavorably for Barcelona, reflecting their recent unstable form in La Liga. Benfica took an early lead just two minutes in, with Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis tapping in to open the scoring. The situation worsened when Pavlidis completed a first-half hat-trick, capitalizing on errors from Barcelona's goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny, whose uncharacteristic mistakes led to two goals.
Despite the shaky start, Barcelona showed resilience. Robert Lewandowski equalized in the 11th minute from the penalty spot after VAR awarded a penalty for a foul on Alejandro Balde. However, Benfica responded quickly, and by halftime, Barcelona found themselves trailing 3-1.
The second half saw a renewed Barcelona side. In the 64th minute, Raphinha reduced the deficit with a bizarre goal after Benfica's goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin's clearance rebounded off his head into the net. Although Benfica extended their lead again shortly after due to an own goal by Ronald Araujo, Barcelona remained undeterred.
Lewandowski scored his second penalty of the night in the 78th minute, making it 4-3. Substitute Eric Garcia then leveled the score in the 87th minute with a towering header from a Pedri cross. The climax came deep into stoppage time when Raphinha struck on a swift counter-attack, silencing the home crowd and sealing the dramatic victory.
\\"We knew it was going to be a difficult game. Benfica have players of the highest level,\\" Raphinha told Movistar after the match. \\"We didn't let ourselves get carried away when we were 3-1 down. It was a spectacular match for the spectators. Anyone could have won.\\"
Defender Eric Garcia echoed the sentiment: \\"It was an incredible victory. The team didn't lose their heads throughout the game. When you start the game losing, it messes your plans. It's important to qualify for the next round; we came with this objective in mind.\\"
The win places Barcelona second in their group with 18 points after seven games, securing their spot in the next round ahead of their final first-phase game against Atalanta next Wednesday. Benfica, who dropped crucial points, will aim to bounce back when they face Juventus.
