LISBON — Raphinha scored deep into stoppage time to hand Barcelona a dramatic 5-4 comeback win at Benfica and a place in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday after a hat-trick from Vangelis Pavlidis gave the hosts a two-goal halftime lead.
Barcelona vs Benfica highlights
Greek striker Pavlidis opened the scoring after two minutes with a tap-in before Robert Lewandowski equalized from the spot as VAR awarded Barca a penalty for a Tomas Araujo foul on Alejandro Balde in the 11th minute.
106 SECONDS IN AND BENIFICA ARE IN FRONT pic.twitter.com/FwI64N8V6k
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 21, 2025
102 #UCL goals for Robert Lewandowski pic.twitter.com/8PYjDVBk95
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 21, 2025
Pavlidis restored Benfica's lead, capitalizing on a poor run out by goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who left the forward with an open goal. The 26-year-old bagged his third with a penalty after Szczesny fouled Kerem Akturkoglu on the half-hour mark.
Vangelis Pavlidis completes his #UCL hat-trick against Barcelona pic.twitter.com/fxuYpYBCQZ
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 21, 2025
A blunder by Benfica keeper Anatoliy Trubin also proved costly as he cleared the ball straight onto Raphinha's head and into the net for a bizarre goal as the visitors pulled one back in the 64th minute to make it 3-2.
The most bizarre #UCL goal you'll see this season pic.twitter.com/7epl1Q0RyX
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 21, 2025
Barcelona's defensive misfortune continued however and Benfica extended their lead again four minutes later thanks to an own goal from Ronald Araujo before Lewandowski scored his second with another clinical penalty in the 78th.
2': Benfica 1-0 Barcelona
13': Benfica 1-1 Barcelona
22': Benfica 2-1 Barcelona
30': Benfica 3-1 Barcelona
64': Benfica 3-2 Barcelona
68': Benfica 4-2 Barcelona
78': Benfica 4-3 BarcelonaTHIS GAME pic.twitter.com/XJyzCVZjie— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 21, 2025
Substitute Eric Garcia then equalized with a towering header from a fine Pedri cross three minutes from time before Raphinha found the winner six minutes into stoppage time from a quick counter-attack that stunned the home crowd.
ERIC GARCÍA HEADS IT HOME TO LEVEL IT AT 4-4 pic.twitter.com/CiwtmJPNyn
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 21, 2025
90+6 WINNER FROM RAPHINHA TO SEND BARCA THROUGH pic.twitter.com/F3YuS6Z2YD
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 21, 2025
(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by Ken Ferris)