Barcelona Comeback against Benfica Secures UCL Knockout Spot

On January 21, 2025, FC Barcelona staged an incredible comeback to defeat Benfica 5-4 in a thrilling UEFA Champions League match held at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon. Marked by dramatic swings in momentum and key mistakes from both teams, the match has been hailed as one of the most memorable encounters of the tournament.

Match Overview

Early Dominance by Benfica

The match began with Benfica taking an early lead just two minutes in when Vangelis Pavlidis scored from close range after a cross from Álvaro Carreras. Barcelona quickly equalized in the 13th minute through a penalty converted by Robert Lewandowski, awarded after a foul on Alejandro Balde.

Photo: /Sport Lisboa e Benfica Facebook

However, Benfica regained control, with Pavlidis scoring two more goals in the first half. The first came from a defensive error by Barcelona’s goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, while the second was from the penalty spot after Szczesny fouled Kerem Aktürkoğlu. This left the score at 3-1 in favor of Benfica at halftime.

Barcelona’s Comeback

Barcelona came out strong in the second half but faced another setback when Ronald Araújo inadvertently scored an own goal, extending Benfica’s lead to 4-2. Despite this, Barcelona refused to give up. Raphinha managed to score in the 64th minute, capitalizing on a mistake from Benfica’s goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin.

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As the match progressed, Barcelona continued to press for goals. Lewandowski scored again from the penalty spot in the 78th minute after Lamine Yamal was fouled, narrowing the deficit to 4-3.

Dramatic Finale

In a thrilling climax, Eric García equalized for Barcelona in the 86th minute with a header from a Pedri cross. Just when it seemed that both teams would settle for a draw, Raphinha scored the decisive goal deep into stoppage time (90+6 minutes), sealing Barcelona’s comeback victory at 5-4.

This win not only showcased Barcelona’s fighting spirit but also secured their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League. The match was characterized by multiple lead changes and highlighted significant defensive lapses from both sides, particularly from Szczesny and Trubin.

Key Players

• Vangelis Pavlidis (Benfica): Scored a hat-trick and was pivotal in Benfica’s early dominance.
• Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona): Scored two penalties and played a crucial role in Barcelona’s comeback.
• Raphinha (Barcelona): Scored two goals, including the dramatic winner, demonstrating his importance to the team’s attacking efforts.
• Eric García (Barcelona): Equalized late in the match with a well-timed header.

Match Events

• 0′ The match is about to start!
• 2′ GOAL! Vangelis Pavlidis sweeps home to stun Barca! Benfica 1-0 Barcelona
• 13′ Penalty Goal! Lewandowski equalizes from the spot! Benfica 1-1 Barcelona
• 22′ GOAL! Calamity leads to Benfica goal! Benfica 2-1 Barcelona
• 30′ Penalty Goal! Pavlidis completes his hat-trick! Benfica 3-1 Barcelona
• 41′ Raphinha crosses, but Yamal misses the target!
• 46′ Lewandowski passes to Raphinha, but his shot is too wide!
• 53′ Pavlidis’s shot is deflected for a corner but cleared easily!
• 58′ Yamal shoots from the box edge but misses high instead of curling it in!
• 60′ Pedri delivers a cross, but Lewandowski’s slide misses the chance!
• 64′ GOAL! Have you ever seen this? Barca score out of nothing! Benfica 4-2 Barcelona
• 68′ GOAL! Araújo slides the ball into his own net! Benfica 4-2 Barcelona
• 71′ Benfica bring on Ángel Di María for Schjelderup in a double change!
• 78′ Penalty Goal! Lewandowski has his second from the spot! Benfica 4-3 Barcelona
• 86′ GOAL! García rises, unmarked, to head home comfortably! Benfica 4-4 Barcelona
• 96′ GOAL! Raphinha scores the winner in stoppage time!

Line-ups

Benfica XI: Otamendi, Fredrik Aursnes, Vangelis Pavlidis, Florentino, Kerem Aktürkoğlu, Orkun Kökçü, Anatoliy Trubin, Tomás Araújo, Álvaro Carreras, Andreas Schjelderup, António Silva

Subs: Di María, Arthur Cabral, J. Beste, Alexander Bah, Benjamín Rollheiser, Leandro Barreiro, Adrian Bajrami, Zeki Amdouni, Samuel Soares, Nuno Félix, Gianluca Prestianni, João Rego

Barcelona XI: Szczesny, Lewandowski, Raphinha, Koundé, Araújo, Pedri, Balde, Casado, Gavi, Yamal, Cubarsi

Subs: Christensen, Peña, De Jong, Ferran Torres, Eric García, Fati, Pau Víctor, Pablo Torre, Fermín López, Gerard Martín, Héctor Fort, Diego Kochen

This incredible match highlighted the unpredictability of football, with moments of brilliance and vulnerability from both teams. The result left Benfica frustrated as they missed an opportunity to climb higher in their group standings, while solidifying Barcelona’s position for advancement into the next round of the competition.