UEFA Champions League 2024-25: Raphinha’s Stoppage-Time Winner Sends Barcelona Through with Thrilling 5-4 Victory

Eppe Franklyne –

• Barcelona staged a stunning comeback, defeating Benfica 5-4 to almost secure direct qualification to the Champions League last 16.
• Despite being 4-2 down with under 15 minutes remaining, goals from Robert Lewandowski, Eric Garcia, and Raphinha sealed the win.
• Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis scored a first-half hat-trick, including two goals following errors by Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

Barcelona produced a dramatic late turnaround, overcoming Benfica 5-4 in a wild Champions League encounter on Tuesday. The match looked to be slipping away from the Catalans as they trailed 4-2 with just over 15 minutes left, but a series of late goals secured a stunning comeback, leaving them three points behind leaders Liverpool in the group standings.

Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis was the star of the first half, scoring a hat-trick, including two goals capitalizing on costly mistakes by Barcelona’s goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. The game began with an early goal from Pavlidis, followed by a quick equalizer from Robert Lewandowski, who converted a penalty after Alejandro Balde was fouled in the box.

However, the match turned in Benfica’s favor when Szczesny’s errors allowed Pavlidis to score two more goals. The first came after Szczesny collided with Balde while attempting to clear a through-ball, and the second followed a penalty awarded for a foul by the goalkeeper. Barcelona struggled but continued pressing, with Raphinha and Lamine Yamal missing key chances before the break.

In the second half, Barcelona mounted their comeback. Raphinha scored in a bizarre fashion, when a clearance from Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin hit his head and flew into the net. Benfica responded with an own goal by Ronald Araujo, but Barcelona wasn’t deterred. Lewandowski converted a second penalty after Nicolas Otamendi fouled Yamal, and Eric Garcia equalized with a header from Pedri’s cross.

The final twist came in stoppage time. With Benfica appealing for a penalty, Barcelona launched a counter-attack, and Raphinha sealed the victory with a composed finish, sending Barcelona to a 5-4 win and putting them in a strong position for the knockout stages.