Football fans witnessed an electrifying UEFA Champions League clash last night as Barcelona edged Benfica 5-4 in a goal-filled thriller at Lisbon’s Estádio da Luz. Barca’s Raphinha shone again, with a stoppage-time winner to seal the dramatic victory, leaving Portuguese fans silenced and heartbroken.
A Lightning Start
The match began with fireworks as Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis scored in the second minute. Barcelona quickly leveled through a Robert Lewandowski penalty after Alejandro Balde was fouled. However, Pavlidis was unstoppable, adding two more goals—a towering header and a clinical finish—completing his first-half hat trick to give Benfica a commanding 3-1 lead.
A Spirited Fightback
Barça reignited the spirit of “La Remontada,” famously remembered as their unbelievable 6-1 comeback against PSG in the 2016/17 UCL campaign. In similar fashion, the Blaugrana fought with grit, heart, and passion to claw their way back into a game that seemed long over.
Barcelona clawed their way back into the game after Benfica’s goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin misjudged a clearance, which deflected off Raphinha and into the net. Despite this lifeline, Barcelona’s Ronald Araújo scored an own goal mere minutes later, admonishing any hopes at a comeback and pushing Benfica ahead 4-2.
But under Hansi Flick’s leadership, Barcelona showed incredible resilience. Lewandowski converted another penalty to reduce the deficit. What soon followed was a purely magical delivery from Pedri, which met Eric García’s powerful header to bring the visitors level at 4-4 in the 87th minute.
Raphinha rises to the Occasion
As the clock ticked down, the game seemed destined for a draw. In the dying moments of stoppage time, chaos erupted—a fitting end to a rollercoaster match.
After a penalty shout in Benfica’s favor was waved off, Barcelona launched a rapid counter-attack. Raphinha latched onto a long ball from Ferran Torres, with only one defender to beat.
Showing composure and flair, he dropped his shoulder to create space and curled a perfect shot past Trubin to secure Barcelona’s dramatic win. The bench erupted in celebration as the Brazilian’s brilliance sealed the night in unforgettable fashion.
A Match to Remember
The match highlighted the best of football: relentless drama, superb individual performances, and undying determination. For Benfica, the result was heartbreaking, but their performance against a European giant won’t be forgotten.
Raphinha’s late winner ensured Barcelona’s Champions League campaign remains on track while etching his name into the competition’s folklore. Fans will be talking about this game for years to come.
For highlights of the drama, watch the game below:
Main Image: BrFootball
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