Barcelona staged a stunning but controversial late comeback to beat Benfica 5-4 in an incredible Champions League battle on Tuesday night.
Vangelis Pavlidis scored a quick-fire hat-trick in the first half as Barcelona's defense – particularly goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny – erupted in a frantic first half, with Robert LewandowskiShort penalty equalizer for the visitors.
Raphinha reduced the deficit with an improbable header after the break before Ronald Araujo's own goal put Benfica back in the driver's seat four minutes later, but another Lewandowski penalty and Eric Garcia's late header drew Barcelona level.
Hansi Flick's lively visitors managed to secure all three points in the 96th minute as Raphinha scored on the counter-attack as Benfica felt they should have been awarded a penalty for a push on Leandro Barreiro in the build-up.
How the game played out
Barcelona visited Lisbon in search of a sixth straight European win but made a nightmare start as they fell behind inside two minutes. Alvaro Carreras was the architect as a cross caught the visitors cold and Pavlidis produced a composed finish from close range to match the left-back's tantalizing display.
Fredrik Aursnes came inches from doubling Benfica's advantage minutes later as Barcelona's backline got off to a sleepy start, but the home side shot themselves in the foot shortly after.
Tomas Araujo's rash challenge on Alejandro Balde gave the Catalan giants a spot-kick after VAR intervention, with Lewandowski's cool penalty drawing them level in a breathless start at the Estadio da Luz.
Barcelona started to make strides after the equaliser, but some disastrous defending allowed Benfica to regain the lead. A long pass behind the visitors' defense saw Szczesny needlessly splash off his line and beat Balde, with Pavlidis picking up the loose ball and curling into an empty net.
Szczesny's night went from bad to worse just before the hour mark as the Poland international's errant dive gave Benfica their second penalty of the game, Pavlidis slotting past the Barcelona villain to secure a remarkable hat-trick 30- minutes.
Barcelona's third keeper had proved the catalyst for Benfica's surge in the first half, but it was Trubin at the other end who offered the Catalans a way back into the contest just after the hour mark. The Ukrainian's flicked pass was awkwardly deflected off Raphinha's head and into his own net, while another error added to the tally.
However, Barcelona refused to go behind in the blunders department as Benfica quickly restored their cushion. A rather tame near-post cross was flicked beyond Szczesny by his own centre-back Araujo as Flick looked on in despair from the sidelines.
But the German looked much happier ten minutes after Araujo's own goal as Barcelona cut Benfica's lead once again. Another penalty was awarded to the visitors after Carreras was hauled down in the box and Lewandowski slotted home his second spot-kick of the evening without fuss.
Garcia was Barcelona's unlikely savior in the closing stages as he equalized with a fine header, but the Catalans were not to be outdone.
Raphinha's clinical finish deep into stoppage-time completed a remarkable turnaround for Barcelona as the Brazilian was released on the counter-attack and Trubin wrong-footed, although Benfica were left fuming after not being awarded a penalty for a push on Barreiro on the side. other. moments before the deceased winner.
Check out the player ratings from Benfica 4-5 Barcelona here.
Barcelona's defense may have produced a tragic performance against Benfica, but the same cannot be said for their forward line. While at times they lacked their usual fluidity and wit, sheer determination won the day as Raphinha saved the backs of his defenders.
The Brazilian won it late on for La Blaugrana with a typically clutch performance, keeping his cool in the final embers to spare his side blushes. The winger has been nothing short of sensational this season and has proven once again why he is one of them Europe's most devastating attackers.
It's hard to read too much into such a strange and scandalous affair, with Benfica trying hard not to earn at least a point for their performance, but Barcelona's character certainly cannot be questioned as they fought tooth and nail for the three points.
Benfica enjoyed just 27% possession during the first half but found themselves 3-1 up at the break. They didn't have to do much to gain their advantage, especially after Szczesny's disaster class, with their intense pressing and direct approach proving too much to handle for the Barcelona rearguard.
The La Liga side's top line was the problem, often caught out by quick game-breakers and looking for balls behind. Flick's gung-ho defensive strategy proved Barcelona's undoing – and not for the first time this season.
Even the quickest members of their backline were unable to track marauding runs from agile wingers and forward-thinking full-backs, with Barcelona looking vulnerable whenever the home side threw bodies forward.
While a late winner saved them, they conceded an xG of 3.28 and six big chances as Benfica's forward line repeatedly picked them apart.
Eyebrows were raised when Hansi Flick picked Szczesny ahead of Inaki Pena in the Barcelona goal. The 34-year-old was making his fourth appearance for the club after being sent off during the game Victory in the final of the Spanish Super Cup against Real Madrid. Flick's decision was not an inspired one.
The veteran endured a gritty and reliable first half in Lisbon as he single-handedly gave Benfica a two-goal cushion going into the break. A header off his line saw him collide with his own defender and curl home Pavlidis' second gift of the game, with a similarly misjudged decision to leave his own goal resulting in a penalty.
While Szczesny improved after the break, even making a couple of good saves, he never put up a convincing tally and was lucky not to end up on the losing side after a rusty and rusty performance.