Controversial Raphinha winner seals nine-goal thriller for Barca at Benfica | Football news

Benfica were denied a penalty in the build-up to a penalty shoot-out winner for Barcelona in the Champions League.

Raphinha scored a dramatic stoppage time winner as Barcelona came from behind beat Benfica 5-4 in a wild game and practically secure a direct placement in the last sixteen of the Champions League.

The home side believed they should have had a penalty in the build-up to Barca’s late goal after Leandro Barreiro appeared to be pushed in the back by Ferran Torres in the box. VAR considered the appeal, postponing the celebration for what would have been the winning goal, but decided not to ask the referee to take another look at his decision.

Benfica led 4-2 with less than 15 minutes remaining on Tuesday, but Barcelona made a late comeback to remain three points behind leaders Liverpool.

Vangelis Pavlidis scored a hat-trick for the hosts in the first half, thanks in part to two big mistakes from Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

However, Roberto Lewandowski’s double from the penalty spot, Eric Garcia’s header and Raphinha’s goal helped Barcelona claim a stunning late triumph in Lisbon.

Benfica opened the scoring in the second minute, when Pavlidis escaped Pau Cubarsi and scored after Alvaro Carreras’ low cross.

Barcelona responded quickly with Lewandowski’s penalty kick after Alejandro Balde was brought down by Benfica defender Tomas Araujo.

The hosts went back in front with a piece of luck, when Szczesny ran outside his own goal to try to clear the ball but crashed into Balde.

The Greek representative Pavlidis happily picked up the lost ball and rolled his second into an empty net.

Barcelona, ​​who lured Szczesny out of retirement in October to replace the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen, soon fell further behind.

Pavlidis completed his half-hour hat-trick with a penalty after another mistake by Szczesny, with the goalkeeper running in to try and clear Kerem Akturkoglu, only to bring him down.

Lamine Yamal and Raphinha missed good chances before the break as Barcelona pushed forward.

Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin saved Jules Kounde, who should have scored, and Lewandowski failed to return Pedri’s dangerous ball across the goal.

Raphinha pulled one back for Barcelona in bizarre fashion when Trubin headed the ball on the edge of the box and it flew back into the net.

However, Benfica soon struck again, Ronald Araujo pushing Szczesny into his own net as he tried to clear a cross.

Barcelona continued to press and Lewandowski converted another penalty after Nicolas Otamendi brought down Yamal.

The Catalan giants, who last won the Champions League in 2015, drew level when substitute Garcia headed home Pedri’s inviting cross.

Szczesny saved former Real Madrid star Angelo Di Maria’s low shot before Raphinha’s dramatic winner.

As Benfica went for a penalty, Barcelona quickly broke away and the Brazilian winger scored to end the successful encounter.