FC Barcelona treated their supporters to a memorable evening as they overturned a desperate situation to win 5-4 against Benfica in Lisbon. Trailing 3-1 after half an hour of play, the Catalans showed exceptional character to secure their direct ticket to the round of 16.
A nightmarish start for Barça
The match couldn’t have started worse for Hansi Flick’s men. From the 2nd minute, Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis opened the scoring for Benfica, exploiting a poorly aligned Barcelona defense. The nightmare continued with two more goals from Pavlidis, first in the 22nd minute, then in the 30th, thanks to clinical precision and an overwhelmed Catalan defense.
Meanwhile, Robert Lewandowski had given Barcelona hope with a goal in the 13th minute, temporarily reducing the gap (3-1). But despite some flashes of offensive genius, Barça seemed powerless in the face of Lisbon’s efficiency.
The turning point of the second period
Returning from the locker room, FC Barcelona showed a different face. His domination finally paid off thanks to Raphinha, who found the net in the 64th minute (3-2). However, an unfortunate own goal from Ronald Araujo in the 68th minute put Benfica back two points ahead (4-2), suggesting that the Blaugrana could not come back.
It was then that Barça’s magic happened. Lewandowski, imperial, scored twice in the 78th minute (4-3), completely reigniting the suspense. Eric Garcia, mounted on a corner, equalized in the 86th minute with a powerful header (4-4).
-And like a nod to destiny, Raphinha offered victory to Barça in the 96th minute, at the end of added time, with an unstoppable strike which sealed the Catalan feat (5-4).
A triumph that feels like an exploit
This spectacular victory allows FC Barcelona to qualify directly for the round of 16 of the competition, marking a turning point in their season. Despite doubts about their defensive solidity, and their foresight in this section of the game, the Blaugrana proved that they could count on a fiery attack and a mentality of steel to reverse impossible situations.
With XXL performances from Lewandowski and Raphinha, as well as a newfound solidarity at the end of the match, Barça sends a clear message to their future opponents: the Catalans are ready to fight, whatever the circumstances.
Judelor Louis Charles
VANT BÈF INFO (VBI)
