Barca fight back to win classic match
Benfica 4 - 5 Barcelona
Barcelona overcame two separate two-goal deficits to secure a breathtaking victory over Benfica.
The match at Estádio da Luz started disastrously for the visitors as Greek forward Vangelis Pavlidis netted a stunning 30-minute hat-trick. The first came from a well-placed cross by full-back Álvaro Carreras, while two further goals were gifted by errors from Barcelona's Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny. Robert Lewandowski, however, kept Barca in contention with a first-half penalty after Alejandro Balde was fouled.
Barcelona fought back after the break, with Raphinha and Lewandowski scoring either side of an unfortunate Ronald Araújo own goal to leave the score at 4-3. But the drama was far from over.
Eric García equalised with a late header, and just when it seemed the game would end in a draw, Raphinha capitalised on a rapid counter-attack in the 96th minute. The Brazilian slotted past Anatoliy Trubin, leaving the home fans stunned and ensuring Barcelona completed one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent memory.
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A match that was defined by its drama and several errors
Benfica will rue missed opportunities and defensive lapses that allowed Barcelona to claw their way back. The Portuguese side had started with confidence, with Carreras's early assist allowing Pavlidis to hammer home the opener. Barcelona's leveller through Lewandowski came after Tomas Araújo's clumsy challenge on Balde, setting the stage for a tense first half.
Szczęsny, making his first Champions League start for Barcelona after returning from retirement, had a night to forget. His misjudged attempts to clear long balls directly contributed to Pavlidis's second and third goals, handing Benfica a commanding lead.
Barcelona's resurgence began in the second half when Raphinha benefited from a bizarre deflection off Trubin’s clearance, the ball rebounding off the Brazilian’s head and into the net. Despite this lifeline, Benfica restored their two-goal advantage minutes later when Ronald Araújo inadvertently turned Andreas Schjelderup's cross into his own net.
Lewandowski's composure from the penalty spot reduced the deficit again, setting the stage for a thrilling finale. García’s equaliser and Raphinha's late winner underscored their determination and shows why this Barca side is much improved from the one that struggled at times last season.
