In one of the most dramatic UEFA Champions League nights of recent years, Barcelona staged an unforgettable comeback to defeat Benfica 5-4 at Estádio da Luz. This thrilling encounter had all the hallmarks of a classic, leaving fans on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
Benfica’s Explosive Start
The home crowd barely had time to settle when Benfica struck early in the second minute. A long diagonal ball found Fredrik Aursnes, whose precise cross set up Vangelis Pavlidis for a simple finish. With just one win in their last seven UCL matches at this venue, Benfica appeared determined to flip the script.
Barcelona responded quickly, winning a penalty when Alejandro Balde was clipped inside the box. Up stepped Robert Lewandowski, whose trademark hop deceived Anatoliy Trubin before slotting the ball into the bottom-right corner. With that goal, Lewandowski demonstrated why he’s one of the most reliable penalty-takers in football history, converting his 86th from 96 attempts.
Comedy of Errors Rocks Barcelona
Just as Barcelona looked poised to dominate, calamity struck. A long ball over the top left Wojciech Szczęsny in no-man’s-land, colliding with Balde and leaving Pavlidis to roll the ball into an empty net. Moments later, Szczęsny compounded his nightmarish performance by conceding a penalty after fouling Kerem Aktürkoğlu. Pavlidis completed his hat-trick with a composed finish down the middle, sending Benfica fans into delirium.
Barcelona’s woes continued with missed opportunities from Gavi and Raphinha, leaving them 3-1 down at halftime. Hansi Flick’s men faced an uphill battle, but the second half promised plenty of drama.
Second-Half Revival Sparks Hope
Barcelona emerged from the break with a renewed purpose. Jules Koundé fluffed a golden opportunity, and Lamine Yamal failed to capitalize on a lofted pass. However, Flick’s double substitution at the hour mark changed the game entirely.
A bizarre moment brought Barcelona back into contention, as Trubin’s attempted clearance struck Raphinha’s head and looped into the net. However, their joy was short-lived when a deflected aerial ball from Tomás Araújo led to an own goal by Ronald Araújo, restoring Benfica’s two-goal cushion.
Lewandowski Leads the Comeback
Barcelona refused to bow out meekly. Another penalty, this time won by Yamal after a foul by Nicolás Otamendi, allowed Lewandowski to convert identically to his first. With the scoreline now 4-3, the Catalans smelled blood.
Pedri’s pinpoint cross found Eric García at the back post, who headed home to level the scores at 4-4. The visitors were relentless, and deep into injury time, Raphinha capped off a remarkable evening with a counter-attacking goal that silenced the home crowd.
Barcelona’s Road Ahead
This dramatic victory not only bolsters Barcelona’s chances of advancing to the Round of 16 but also highlights their ability to thrive under pressure. As for Benfica, this heart-wrenching loss leaves them in a precarious position, with their qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
With more captivating UCL nights ahead, Kenyan fans can look forward to many more unforgettable moments. Stay tuned to your favorite football action and don’t miss out on the opportunity to back your team on BangSports!
