During day 7 of the Champions League, FC Barcelona faced SL Benfica in a match full of emotions, both on and off the field. The intensity of the match culminated in a confrontation between Raphinha and Benfica players in the tunnel at the Estádio Da Luz, leading to police intervention to defuse the situation, according to a source.
After the incident, Raphinha shared her perspective on what sparked this electric exchange. “I am someone who respects everyone. When I came out, people insulted me. I returned the insults; I know I shouldn’t have done that, but in the end we all got heated,” Raphinha admitted to the media.
The Brazilian played down the incident, calling it “normal” in high-stakes matches. “The Benfica team could have held back; if she respects me, I will return their respect. I’m not one to hold grudges. It’s typical in football after a match like this,” he said.
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Szczesny’s roller coaster performance at Da Luz
The Benfica players’ discontent seemed to stem from the controversy surrounding Raphinha’s late goal, which he scored in the 90+6th minute to seal the 5-4 victory for Barcelona. The action was initially marked by a Benfica player falling in the Barcelona box, but VAR did not award a penalty, leading to complaints from the home side.
At the end of the match, Raphinha was named MVP for his decisive performance, which included two goals as Barcelona qualified for the knockout stages of the 2024-25 Champions League under coach Hansi Flick.
-“We knew it would be a difficult match. Benfica plays very well and defends solidly. We didn’t let ourselves get discouraged by being 3-1 down at half-time; we came back focused. Whether it was Benfica or us who could have won,” reflected the Barcelona player on the challenge posed by his opponents.
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FC Barcelona triumphs in a thrilling match at Da Luz
The final score in this spectacular match between FC Barcelona and SL Benfica is 5-4 in favor of the Catalans. Hansi Flick’s team initially trailed after Vangelis Pavlidis scored a goal in the second minute, but Robert Lewandowski quickly equalized with a penalty.
An error between Szczęsny and Balde allowed Pavlidis to score his second goal, making the score 2-1, before extending the lead to 3-1 with another penalty. In the second half, a blunder by goalkeeper Trubin led to a goal by Raphinha, reducing the gap to 3–2, although Araújo’s own goal made it 4–2. Lewandowski scored another penalty and García added a header to tie it at 4-4, until Raphinha’s late shot completed his brace and solidified the 5-4 victory.
