Barcelona produced a remarkable and controversial late comeback to beat Benfica 5-4 in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Raphinha’s 96th-minute effort won the contest for the Catalans as Benfica were left fuming after they believed they should have been awarded a penalty at the other end moments before the Brazilian burst onto the pitch to score the decisive goal.
The opening phase epitomized the duality of the Spanish heavyweights, with lethargic defending allowing Vangelis Pavlidis to clear from the spot before Robert Lewandowski leveled with a collected spot-kick.
But there was nothing nuanced about Wojciech Szczesny’s performance at the Estadio da Luz as the Polish goalkeeper endured a dismal first half hour. Catalog collision with Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde gifted Pavlidis for his second of the game, before Szczesny saved a penalty for Benfica from which the Greek forward secured his hat-trick.
Barcelona reduced the deficit after the hour with an unconventional effort, Raphinha deflecting Benfica goalkeeper Anatoli Trubin’s misjudged pass from outside the penalty area.
Barcelona’s hopes of a comeback appeared short-lived as Benfica restored a two-goal lead and Ronald Araujo scored an own net from Andreas Schjelderup’s cross against the post, while another individual error proved to be a rout for the visitors.
But Benfica were on hand to gift Barcelona another way into the game as Alvaro Carreras conceded the home side’s second penalty of the night. Lewandowskiwho converted from the spot in the first half, made no mistake in securing the goal after sending Trubin the wrong way.
Barcelona eventually secured a dramatic equalizer as they piled the pressure on their hosts, Eric Garcia slotting home in the 86th minute to spare them the blushes, but there was still time for more drama in Portugal.
Leandro Barreiro was likely pushed in the penalty area in stoppage time before Raphinha raced up the other end of the pitch to fire Barcelona’s first shot of the game, but referee Danny Makkelie and VAR were unmoved as the visitors secured a controversial and stunning victory.
*Ratings are provided by FotMob*
|
Player |
Evaluation |
|---|---|
|
GK: Anatoly Trubin |
3.6/10 |
|
RB: Tomas Araujo |
5.6/10 |
|
CB: Antonio Silva |
5.4/10 |
|
CB: Nicolas Otamendi |
6.2/10 |
|
LB: Alvaro Carreras |
7.0/10 |
|
CM: Fredrik Aursnes |
6.6/10 |
|
CM: Florentino Luis |
7.3/10 |
|
CM: Orkun Kokc |
6.6/10 |
|
RW: Kerem Akturkoglu |
7.4/10 |
|
ST: Vangelis Pavlidis |
9.4/10 |
|
LW: Andreas Schjelderup |
6.9/10 |
|
UNDER: Leandro Barreiro (61′ for Aursnes) |
6.1/10 |
|
UNDER: Angel Di Maria (71′ for Schjelderup) |
6.2/10 |
|
UNDER: Alexander Bah (71′ for Akturkoglu) |
6.2/10 |
|
UNDER: Benjamin Rollheiser (80′ for Kokca) |
6.0/10 |
|
UNDER: Zeki Amdouni (80′ for Pavlidis) |
6.3/10 |
Unused substitutes: Samuel Soares (GK), Adrian Bajrami, Gianluca Prestianni, Joao Rego, Nuno Felix, Arthur Cabral, Jan-Niklas Beste.
*Ratings are provided by FotMob*
|
Player |
Evaluation |
|---|---|
|
GK: Wojciech Szczesny |
5.5/10 |
|
RB: Jules Kounde |
6.1/10 |
|
CB: Ronald Araujo |
6.0/10 |
|
CB: Pau Cubarsi |
6.7/10 |
|
LB: Alejandro Balde |
7.1/10 |
|
CM: Gavi |
6.5/10 |
|
CM: Marc Casado |
7.3/10 |
|
CM: Pedro |
8.2/10 |
|
RW: Lamine Yamal |
8.0/10 |
|
ST: Robert Lewandowski |
8.8/10 |
|
LW: Raphinha |
9.3/10 |
|
UNDER: Frenkie de Jong (62′ for Casado) |
6.3/10 |
|
UNDER: Fermin Lopez (62′ for Gavi) |
6.4/10 |
|
UNDER: Eric Garcia (74′ for Kounde) |
7.5/10 |
|
UNDER: Ferran Torres (74′ for Balde) |
7.2/10 |
|
UNDER: Gerard Martin (90+2′ for Yamal) |
ON |
Unused substitutes: Diego Kochen (GK), Inaki Pena (GK), Hector Fort, Andreas Christensen, Pablo Torre, Ansu Fati, Pau Victor.
Player of the match – Vangelis Pavlidis (Benfica)
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