Barcelona pulled off a sensational 5-4 comeback victory against Benfica on Tuesday, thanks to a dramatic stoppage-time goal from Raphinha. The win not only showcased a roller-coaster of emotions but also secured Barca’s spot in the UEFA Champions League last 16.
The match at Estadio da Luz started unfavorably for the Catalans, mirroring their recent shaky La Liga form. Greek forward Vangelis Pavlidis opened the scoring for Benfica just two minutes in, capitalizing on defensive lapses. Pavlidis was unstoppable in the first half, completing a hat-trick and giving the hosts a commanding 3-1 lead at halftime.
Barcelona’s woes were compounded by questionable goalkeeping from Wojciech Szczesny, whose errors contributed to Benfica’s early dominance. However, the tide began to turn in the second half.
A bizarre goal in the 64th minute saw Raphinha inadvertently score when Benfica keeper Anatoliy Trubin’s clearance ricocheted off his head and into the net, reducing the deficit to 3-2. Although an own goal from Ronald Araujo extended Benfica’s lead again, Barcelona refused to back down.
Robert Lewandowski’s second penalty of the night made it 4-3, reigniting Barca’s hopes. Substitute Eric Garcia then soared above the defense to head home an equalizer in the 87th minute.
With the match seemingly headed for a draw, Raphinha delivered the final blow. In the sixth minute of stoppage time, he finished off a swift counter-attack, silencing the home crowd and sealing an unforgettable victory.
“It was an incredible victory. The team didn’t lose their heads throughout the game,” defender Eric Garcia said post-match. “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.”
Raphinha echoed his teammate’s sentiments: “We knew it was going to be a difficult game. 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.”
Barcelona now sits second in their group with 18 points, heading into their final first-phase fixture against Atalanta next Wednesday. Meanwhile, Benfica will look to bounce back when they face Juventus, hoping to secure a spot among the playoff positions.
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Late Raphinha strike earns Barca 5-4 win at Benfica and last-16 spot
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