Barcelona's Dramatic Comeback Stuns Benfica in 5-4 Thriller

Barcelona fight back twice from two-goal deficits to beat Benfica 5-4. Raphinha's 96th-minute winner seals Barca's spot in the Champions League last 16.

Barcelona Pull Off Thrilling Comeback to Beat Benfica in Seven-Goal Epic

In a game that had everything – goals, howlers, drama, and a 96th-minute winner – Barcelona came back from the brink not once, but twice, to stun Benfica 5-4 in a pulsating Champions League clash. Wojciech Szczesny, making his first Champions League start in years, endured a nightmare evening, while Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha inspired a remarkable turnaround that sealed Barca's spot in the last 16.

Pavlidis Runs Riot as Szczesny Stumbles

Benfica made a dream start, and Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis was the star of the show early on. He smashed home a sensational 30-minute hat-trick, leaving the Barcelona defence and Wojciech Szczesny in tatters

The first goal came courtesy of full-back Alvaro Carreras, who got in behind Jules Kounde and delivered a perfect cross for Pavlidis to emphatically finish. But things took a turn for the comical with Szczesny’s first howler. The Polish keeper collided with his own teammate, Alejandro Balde, while trying to clear a routine long ball, leaving Pavlidis free to slot into an empty net.

Szczesny then compounded his misery by clattering into Benfica winger Kerem Aktürkoglu to concede a penalty. Pavlidis coolly dispatched it, completing his treble and leaving the Barcelona faithful wondering what they’d just witnessed.

Lewandowski Leads the Fightback

Despite Szczesny’s struggles, Barcelona weren’t going down without a fight. Robert Lewandowski converted from the penalty spot after Tomas Araujo stepped on Alejandro Balde’s foot, giving Barca their first glimmer of hope.

The visitors pushed forward, with Gavi forcing a smart save from Anatoliy Trubin, and Ronald Araujo heading narrowly over from a corner. But for all their effort, they went into halftime 3-1 down.

The Late-Game Chaos: Barca’s Stunning Comeback

Barcelona turned up the heat as the game entered its closing stages. Lewandowski, once again clinical from the penalty spot, made it 4-3, setting the stage for a thrilling finale.

Eric Garcia then rose highest to head home an equaliser in the dying minutes, and just as it seemed both sides would share the points, chaos erupted.

First, Szczesny redeemed himself slightly with a crucial block to deny Angel Di Maria, before Benfica had a penalty shout turned down after a VAR review. While the home crowd protested, Barcelona pounced.

Raphinha raced away on the counter, slotting past Trubin in the 96th minute to complete the comeback and silence the Estadio da Luz. The scenes were pure drama, and for Benfica, heartbreak.

Barca Seal Last 16 Spot, Benfica Left Wondering

The victory means Barcelona have guaranteed their place in the Champions League last 16 with 18 points. The Catalans showed incredible resilience to recover from two separate two-goal deficits and seal an unforgettable win.

For Benfica, this will be a tough one to swallow. After such a strong start, they’ll be left wondering how they let this slip away. Szczesny’s errors might have opened the door, but it was Raphinha, Lewandowski, and the relentless spirit of Barcelona that slammed it shut.