Raphinha struck a dramatic winner in stoppage time as Barcelona got here from behind to beat Benfica 5-4 in a wild match on Tuesday and guarantee direct qualification to the Champions League final 16.
Barcelona’s Raphinha celebrates his aspect’s fifth aim throughout a Champions League opening section soccer match between SL Benfica and FC Barcelona on the Luz stadium in Lisbon.(AP)
Benfica have been main 4-2 with underneath quarter-hour remaining however Barcelona mounted a shocking late comeback to remain three factors behind leaders Liverpool.
Vangelis Pavlidis hit a first-half hat-trick for the hosts, partly thanks to 2 huge errors by Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
Nevertheless, a Robert Lewandowski double from the penalty spot, Eric Garcia’s header, and a brace for Raphinha helped Barcelona declare a shocking last-gasp triumph in Lisbon.
“It was a crazy game… Benfica did well in the first half but we made a lot of mistakes,” stated Barcelona coach Flick.
Barca confirmed grit to maintain combating after getting into 3-1 down at half-time and swiftly conceding once more after Raphinha pulled one again.
“The mentality of the team, they always believe in themselves and this was unbelievable to see,” stated Flick.
“In the second half we created more chances than them and we deserved it.”
Benfica opened the scoring within the second minute, when Pavlidis escaped Pau Cubarsi and fired dwelling from Alvaro Carreras’ low cross.
Barcelona responded swiftly with Lewandowski scoring from the penalty spot after Alejandro Balde was introduced down by Benfica defender Tomas Araujo.
The hosts nosed again forward by a stroke of luck, when Szczesny raced out of his aim to try to minimize out a through-ball, however crashed into Balde.
Greece worldwide Pavlidis gleefully collected the free ball and rolled his second into the empty web.
Barcelona, who lured Szczesny out of retirement to switch the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen in October, quickly fell additional behind.
Pavlidis accomplished his half-hour hat-trick with a penalty after one other Szczesny mistake, with the goalkeeper flying in to try to dispossess Kerem Akturkoglu however bringing him down.
– Barca battle again –
Lamine Yamal and Raphinha missed good probabilities earlier than the break as Barcelona pushed ahead.
Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin saved from Jules Kounde, who ought to have scored, and Lewandowski couldn’t flip dwelling from Pedri’s harmful ball throughout the face of aim.
Raphinha pulled one again for Barcelona in weird vogue as a clearance by Trubin struck his head on the sting of the world and flew again into the web.
Nevertheless, Benfica quickly struck once more, with Ronald Araujo nudging previous Szczesny into his personal web as he tried to chop out a cross.
Barcelona stored pushing and Lewandowski transformed one other penalty after Nicolas Otamendi introduced down Yamal.
The Catalan giants, who final received the Champions League in 2015, pulled stage when substitute Garcia headed dwelling from Pedri’s inviting cross.
Szczesny saved former Actual Madrid star Angel Di Maria’s low shot earlier than Raphinha’s dramatic winner.
With Benfica interesting for a penalty, Barcelona sprang a fast breakaway and the Brazilian winger slotted dwelling to finish a blockbuster battle.
Gamers from each side clashed after the ultimate whistle as tempers flared following the thrilling denouement.
“We knew how hard it would be here, in front of their fans, and they know how to play really well, they have top level players,” Raphinha informed Movistar.
“We did not let ourselves sink at 3-1 down, we have been focussed on what we would have liked to do to try to change the sport.
“It was a spectacular game for everyone. They could have won, or us, but we managed to take it.”