Barcelona staged a stunning but controversial comeback to beat Benfica 5-4 in a remarkable Champions League battle on Tuesday evening.
Vangelis Pavlidis scored a quick-fire hat-trick in the opening half hour as Barcelona’s defence, especially goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, imploded in a frantic first half, with Robert LewandowskiPenalty for the visiting team.
Raphinha reduced the deficit with an unlikely header after the break before Ronald Araujo’s own goal put Benfica back in the driver’s seat four minutes later, but another penalty from Lewandowski and a header Eric Garcia’s goal drew Barcelona.
Hansi Flick’s spirited visitors made it all three points in the 96th minute when Raphinha scored on the counter-attack after Benfica felt a penalty should have been awarded for a push on Leandro Barreiro in the build-up.
How the game developed
Barcelona visited Lisbon looking for a sixth straight European win but got off to a nightmare start as they fell behind within two minutes. Álvaro Carreras was the architect as a switch of the field crossed for the visitors and Pavlidis produced a composed finish from close range to match the left-back’s eye-catching delivery.
Fredrik Aursnes came inches from doubling Benfica’s lead minutes later as Barcelona’s backline got off to a sleepy start, but the home side shot themselves in the foot soon after.
Tomas Araujo’s rash challenge on Alejandro Balde gifted the Catalan giants a spot-kick after VAR intervened, with Lewandowski’s ice penalty drawing them level in a breathless start at the Estadio da Luz.
Barcelona started to go ahead after the equaliser, but some disastrous defending allowed Benfica to regain the lead. A long pass in behind the visiting defense saw Szczesny needlessly break off his line and beat Balde, with Pavlidis picking up the loose ball and rolling into an empty net.
Szczesny’s evening went from bad to worse just before the hour mark as the Poland international kicked Benfica’s second penalty, and Pavlidis beat the Barcelona villain to complete a remarkable 30-minute hat-trick.
Barcelona’s third-choice goalkeeper had been the catalyst for Benfica’s first-half surge, but it was Trubin in the other net who offered the Catalans a way back into the match shortly after the hour mark . The Ukrainian’s pinging pass took an odd deflection off Raphinha’s head and into his net as another mistake added to the score.
However, Barcelona refused to be outdone in the gaffe department as Benfica quickly restored their cushion. His own centre-back Araujo flicked a fairly tame near-post cross past Szczesny as Flick looked on in despair from the sidelines.
But the German looked much happier ten minutes after Araujo’s own goal as Barcelona again cut Benfica’s lead. Another penalty was awarded for the visitors after Carreras’ tackle in the box and Lewandowski stroked home his second shot of the night without fuss.
Garcia was Barcelona’s unlikely savior in the final phase, as he equalized with a well-placed header, but the Catalans weren’t finished there.
Raphinha’s clinical stoppage-time finish completed an outstanding turnaround for Barcelona as the Brazilian broke free on the counter-attack and deflected past Trubin, although Benfica were left fuming that they were not awarded a penalty for a push to Barreiro at the other end. moments before the late winner.
See Benfica 4-5 Barcelona player ratings here.
Barcelona’s defense may have produced a tragic performance against Benfica, but the same cannot be said of their forward line. Although they lacked their usual fluidity and wit at times, sheer determination won the day as Raphinha saved the backs of his defenders.
The Brazilian won it late on for La Blaugrana with a typically clutch performance, keeping his composure in the dying embers to save his side blushes. The winger has been simply sensational this term and has once again shown why he is one The most devastating strikers in Europe.
It’s hard to read too much into such a strange and scandalous affair, with Benfica struggling not to earn at least a point for their performance, but Barcelona’s character certainly cannot be questioned as they fought tooth and nail for the three points .
Benfica enjoyed just 27% possession in the first half but found themselves 3-1 up at the break. They didn’t have to do too much to gain their advantage, especially after Szczesny’s class disaster, with his intense pressure and direct approach that was too much for the Barcelona rear-guard.
The La Liga outfit’s top line was the problem, often caught out by quick changes of play and looking for balls at the back. Flick’s defensive strategy proved the destruction of Barcelona, and it’s not the first time this season.
Even the quickest members of their backline were unable to keep up with the marauding runs of nimble wings and forward-thinking full-backs, with Barcelona looking susceptible every time the home side threw their bodies forward.
While a late winner rescued them, they conceded a 3.28 xG and six big chances as Benfica’s forward line repeatedly broke them down.
There were eyebrows raised when Hansi Flick opted for Szczesny ahead of Inaki Pena in the Barcelona goal. The 34-year-old had just made his fourth appearance for the club after being sent off during the game Spanish Super Cup final victory over Real Madrid. Flick’s decision was not inspired.
The veteran endured a torrid, confidence-shattering first half in Lisbon as he single-handedly gave Benfica their two-goal cushion heading into the break. A headless charge off his line saw him collide with his own defender and wrap up Pavlidis’ second of the game with a free, with the wrong decision to abandon his goal resulting in a penalty at home.
Although Szczesny improved after the break, even making several decent saves, he never managed a convincing tally and was lucky not to end up on the losing side after a disjointed and rusty display.
