On January 21, 2025, FC Barcelona delivered a stunning performance at Estádio da Luz, defeating SL Benfica 5-4 in a thrilling Champions League group-stage match to secure their place in the tournament’s Round of 16. The dramatic comeback, fueled by grit and determination, solidified Barcelona’s position as a formidable contender in this year’s competition.
The game began disastrously for Barcelona, as Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis found the back of the net in the second minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse. Despite the early setback, Barcelona managed to equalize in the 13th minute when Robert Lewandowski confidently converted a penalty after a foul on Joao Cancelo. However, Barcelona’s hopes of settling into the match were dashed when Pavlidis struck twice more in quick succession, completing his hat-trick by the 30th minute. Benfica’s dominant first-half display left Barcelona trailing 3-1 at halftime, with questions swirling about their ability to recover.
Barcelona’s response in the second half was nothing short of extraordinary. Early in the half, João Félix reignited the visitors’ hopes with a precise strike in the 50th minute, narrowing the gap to 3-2. However, Benfica restored their two-goal lead in the 68th minute, as David Neres capitalized on another defensive error to make it 4-2. Refusing to give up, Barcelona intensified their efforts, and Lewandowski converted a second penalty in the 77th minute after a handball in the box, bringing the score to 4-3.
As the clock ticked down, Barcelona’s persistence paid off. In the 88th minute, defender Eric García rose above Benfica’s defense to head in an equalizer from a corner, making it 4-4. The momentum had shifted completely, and Barcelona seemed determined to complete the comeback.
Deep into stoppage time, Raphinha became the hero of the night. The Brazilian winger latched onto a cross from Alejandro Balde in the 96th minute, calmly slotting the ball past Benfica’s goalkeeper to seal a dramatic 5-4 victory for Barcelona. The goal sent the visiting fans into raptures and ensured their team’s progression to the Champions League knockout stages.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick reflected on what went wrong in the first half of the game in his post-match comments: “It was a crazy game. Benfica did really well, especially in the first half, but we made a lot of mistakes. We didn’t defend very good. The next opponents will look at this match and we have to make it better. We will do that. At half-time we said we wanted to change something; we need better positioning. And we said we want to come back,” as reported by ESPN. He went on to say “I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a comeback like this,” as reported by Forbes.
Raphinha, the match-winner, also reflected on the victory: “We knew it was going to be a difficult game. I know how hard it is to play here against Benfica. They have players of the highest level. We didn’t let ourselves get carried away when we were 3-1 down. It was a spectacular match for the spectators. Anyone could have won,” as reported by The Guardian.
With this victory, Barcelona not only secured their place in the Champions League Round of 16 but also demonstrated their ability to overcome adversity under pressure. The result leaves Benfica with an uphill battle to advance, as they must now rely on other results in the group.