Barcelona clinched a dramatic 5-4 victory over Benfica in the Champions League, with a controversial 96th-minute winner from Raphinha deciding an enthralling contest. The game was packed with goals, errors, and contentious moments, leaving Benfica furious over a missed penalty call in the build-up to the decisive strike.
Match Recap: A Rollercoaster of Emotions
The match started with Barcelona’s defensive frailties on full display. Vangelis Pavlidis opened the scoring for Benfica, capitalizing on poor marking. Barcelona responded through Robert Lewandowski’s penalty, but Wojciech Szczesny’s nightmare performance handed the hosts the upper hand. Szczesny’s collision with Alejandro Balde gifted Pavlidis his second, and the Polish goalkeeper conceded a penalty that allowed the Greek forward to complete his hat-trick.
Barcelona clawed their way back when Raphinha intercepted a misjudged pass from Benfica’s goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin and scored from outside the box. However, an own goal from Ronald Araujo re-established Benfica’s two-goal cushion.
The visitors fought back with Lewandowski converting another penalty and Eric Garcia heading home a late equalizer. In stoppage time, Benfica’s Leandro Barreiro appeared to be fouled in the penalty area, but no penalty was given. Moments later, Raphinha scored the winner, leaving Benfica enraged and Barcelona celebrating a hard-fought win.
Player Ratings
Benfica (4-3-3)
- GK: Anatoliy Trubin (3.6/10): A costly error gifted Barcelona a goal.
- RB: Tomas Araujo (5.6/10): Struggled to contain Barcelona’s wide players.
- CB: Antonio Silva (5.4/10): Lacked composure under pressure.
- CB: Nicolas Otamendi (6.2/10): Tried to marshal the defense but couldn’t prevent the chaos.
- LB: Alvaro Carreras (7.0/10): Won a penalty and showed defensive grit.
- CM: Fredrik Aursnes (6.6/10): Solid in midfield but faded late on.
- CM: Florentino Luis (7.3/10): Controlled the tempo well.
- CM: Orkun Kokcu (6.6/10): Played with energy but lacked a cutting edge.
- RW: Kerem Akturkoglu (7.4/10): A constant threat on the right flank.
- ST: Vangelis Pavlidis (9.4/10): Clinical hat-trick and tireless effort.
- LW: Andreas Schjelderup (6.9/10): Provided an assist but faded in the second half.
Substitutes
- Leandro Barreiro (6.1/10): Involved in the penalty controversy.
- Angel Di Maria (6.2/10): Added creativity but couldn’t change the result.
- Alexander Bah (6.2/10): Energetic but lacked precision.
- Benjamin Rollheiser (6.0/10): Minimal impact.
- Zeki Amdouni (6.3/10): Couldn’t replicate Pavlidis’ influence.
Barcelona (4-3-3)
- GK: Wojciech Szczesny (5.5/10): A disastrous performance marred by errors.
- RB: Jules Kounde (6.1/10): Struggled defensively but supported the attack.
- CB: Ronald Araujo (6.0/10): Unfortunate own goal overshadowed his efforts.
- CB: Pau Cubarsi (6.7/10): Composed under pressure.
- LB: Alejandro Balde (7.1/10): Dynamic down the left flank.
- CM: Gavi (6.5/10): Industrious but lacked creativity.
- CM: Marc Casado (7.3/10): A solid display in midfield.
- CM: Pedri (8.2/10): Dictated play and created chances.
- RW: Lamine Yamal (8.0/10): A lively presence on the wing.
- ST: Robert Lewandowski (8.8/10): Two vital penalties showcased his composure.
- LW: Raphinha (9.3/10): Decisive and controversial winner capped a stellar performance.
Substitutes
- Frenkie de Jong (6.3/10): Helped stabilize the midfield.
- Fermin Lopez (6.4/10): Added energy late on.
- Eric Garcia (7.5/10): Scored the crucial equalizer.
- Ferran Torres (7.2/10): Injected pace into the attack.
- Gerard Martin (N/A): Late cameo.
Player of the Match
Vangelis Pavlidis (Benfica): A hat-trick performance that deserved more than a defeat.
What’s Next?
Barcelona’s win cements their position near the top of the Champions League table, while Benfica faces an uphill battle to secure a top-eight spot. Both teams will need to regroup quickly as the league phase nears its conclusion.
