Barcelona produced an incredible but controversial late comeback to beat Benfica 5-4 in an extraordinary Champions League clash on Tuesday night.
Vangelis Pavlidis scored a quick-fire hat-trick inside the first half hour as Barcelona’s defense – particularly goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny – exploded in a frenetic first half, with Robert LewandowskiThe penalty briefly equalized for the visitors.
Raphinha reduced the deficit with a stunning header after the break before Ronald Araujo’s own goal put Benfica back in the running four minutes later, but another Lewandowski penalty and Eric Garcia’s late header earned Barcelona an equaliser.
Hansi Flick’s lively visitors managed to secure all three points in the 96th minute when Raphinha scored on the counter-attack after Benfica felt they should have been awarded a penalty for pushing Leandro Barreiro in stoppage time.
How the match unfolded
Barcelona visited Lisbon in search of a sixth straight European win but made a nightmare start as they fell behind inside two minutes. Alvaro Carreras was the architect when a change in the field caught the visitors by surprise, and Pavlidis produced a composed finish from close range that matched the left-back’s tantalizing output.
Fredrik Aursnes came within inches of doubling Benfica’s lead a few minutes later when Barcelona’s back line sleepily got going, but the home side shot themselves in the foot shortly after.
Tomas Araujo’s hasty challenge on Alejandro Balde gave the Catalan giants a spot-kick after VAR intervention and Lewandowski’s ice-cold penalty drew them level in a breathless start at the Estadio da Luz.
Barcelona started to improve after the equaliser, but disastrous defending allowed Benfica to retake the lead. A long pass in behind the away defense saw Szczesny needlessly come off his line to beat Balde and Pavlidis picked up the loose ball and rolled into an empty net.
Szczesny’s night took a turn for the worse just before the hour mark when the Polish international’s errant dive earned Benfica their second penalty of the game, Pavlidis slotting past Barcelona’s villain to secure a remarkable 30-minute hat-trick.
Barcelona’s third keeper proved to be the catalyst for Benfica’s first-half surge, but it was Trubin in the second net who gave the Catalans a comeback just after the hour mark. The Ukrainian’s pass was bizarrely deflected off Raphinha’s head into his own net as another foul added to the tally.
However, Barcelona refused to be outdone in the gaffe department as Benfica quickly reclaimed their place. His centre-back Araujo hit a rather tame cross past Szczesny as Flick watched desperately from the sidelines.
But the German looked much happier ten minutes after Araujo’s own goal as Barcelona reduced Benfica’s lead once again. Another penalty was awarded for the visitors after Carreras pulled the ball into the penalty area and Lewandowski had no trouble hitting it with his second spot-kick of the night.
Garcia was Barcelona’s incredible savior in the closing stages when he equalized with a well-placed header, but the Catalans weren’t done there.
Raphinha’s clinical finish deep into injury time completed a remarkable turnaround for Barcelona as the Brazilian broke free on the counter-attack and wrong-footed Trubin, although Benfica were left furious they were not awarded a penalty for shoving 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 for their attacking line. Although they lacked their usual fluidity and ingenuity at times, sheer determination won the day as Raphinha saved the backsides of his defenders.
The Brazilian scored a late winner for La Blaugrana with a typically clutch performance, keeping his composure in the dying embers to spare his side blushes. The winger has been simply sensational this term and once again proved why he is one of them Europe’s most devastating attackers.
It’s hard to read too much into such a bizarre and outrageous affair, with Benfica struggling to earn at least a point for their performance, but Barcelona’s character certainly cannot be questioned as they fought tooth and nail for all three points.
Benfica only had 27% of the possession during the first half, but took a 3-1 lead into the break. They didn’t have to do too much to earn their lead, especially after Szczesny’s disastrous class, with their intense pressing and direct approach proving too much for Barcelona’s backline.
The La Liga team’s high line was a problem, often caught out by quick changes of play and looking for balls behind. Flick’s ferocious defensive strategy proved Barcelona’s undoing – and not for the first time this season.
Even the quicker members of their backline couldn’t keep up with the marauding runs of the agile wing-forwards and advanced full-backs, with Barcelona looking vulnerable every time the home side threw their bodies forward.
While a late winner pulled them through, they surrendered an xG of 3.28 and six big chances as Benfica’s forward line constantly picked them apart.
There were raised eyebrows when Hansi Flick opted for Szczesny ahead of Inaki Pena in the Barcelona goal. The 34-year-old was making just his fourth appearance for the club after being sent off during Victory in the Supercopa de Espana final over Real Madrid. Flicka’s decision was not inspired.
The veteran endured a tumultuous first half that sapped confidence in Lisbon when he single-handedly handed Benfica their two-goal advantage at the break. A headlong rush off his line saw him collide with his own defender and wrap up Pavlidis’ second-half gift, with a similar misjudgment to abandon his own goal resulting in a penalty for the hosts.
While Szczesny improved after the break, even making a couple of decent saves, he never put up a convincing tally and was lucky not to end up on the losing side after a disjointed and rusty display.
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