Benfica 4-5 Barcelona: Raphinha’s Controversial Goal Decides a Champions League Classic

Barcelona pulled off an extraordinary and dramatic 5-4 victory against Benfica in the Champions League, capped by Raphinha’s controversial 96th-minute winner. The thrilling contest at Estadio da Luz was marked by defensive errors, penalty drama, and relentless action.

Barcelona’s Turbulent Start and Benfica’s Dominance

Benfica struck first through Vangelis Pavlidis, capitalizing on Barcelona’s defensive lapses. The Greek striker netted his hat-trick within the first half-hour, including a penalty gifted by Wojciech Szczesny’s clumsy foul.

Barcelona leveled the score earlier with a composed penalty from Robert Lewandowski, but Szczesny’s poor performance left the Catalans struggling to gain control.

Raphinha gave Barcelona a lifeline with a deflected goal after a poor pass from Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, but Ronald Araujo’s own goal restored Benfica’s two-goal advantage.

Barcelona’s Comeback Fueled by Lewandowski

Barcelona was handed another chance when Alvaro Carreras conceded a second penalty. Lewandowski made no mistake, securing his brace and reigniting his team’s hope.

Eric Garcia’s late header in the 86th minute brought Barcelona level for the first time, setting the stage for a grandstand finish.

Raphinha’s Late Heroics Amid VAR Controversy

In stoppage time, Benfica’s Leandro Barreiro appeared to be pushed in the box, but no penalty was awarded. Moments later, Raphinha raced upfield and delivered the decisive blow, scoring Barcelona’s fifth goal and sealing the victory. Benfica’s players and fans were incensed, but the decision stood, giving Barcelona a vital three points in their Champions League campaign.

Player Ratings

Benfica (4-3-3)

• Anatoliy Trubin: 3.6/10 – A costly error for Raphinha’s goal overshadowed his otherwise decent saves.
• Tomas Araujo: 5.6/10 – Struggled against Barcelona’s wingers.
• Antonio Silva: 5.4/10 – Lacked composure under pressure.
• Nicolas Otamendi: 6.2/10 – Solid but unable to marshal the defense effectively.
• Alvaro Carreras: 7.0/10 – Contributed both offensively and defensively, though he conceded a crucial penalty.
• Fredrik Aursnes: 6.6/10 – Controlled the midfield until his substitution.
• Florentino Luis: 7.3/10 – A commanding presence in the middle.
• Orkun Kokcu: 6.6/10 – Creative but lacked consistency.
• Kerem Akturkoglu: 7.4/10 – One of Benfica’s standout players with energy and skill.
• Vangelis Pavlidis: 9.4/10 – Hat-trick hero and player of the match.
• Andreas Schjelderup: 6.9/10 – Delivered dangerous crosses but faded late.

Substitutes: Angel Di Maria – 6.2/10, Alexander Bah – 6.2/10, Benjamin Rollheiser – 6.0/10, Zeki Amdouni – 6.3/10.

Barcelona (4-3-3)

• Wojciech Szczesny: 5.5/10 – A poor performance marked by costly errors.
• Jules Kounde: 6.1/10 – Solid but unspectacular.
• Ronald Araujo: 6.0/10 – Scored an own goal but was otherwise steady.
• Pau Cubarsi: 6.7/10 – Handled Benfica’s attack reasonably well.
• Alejandro Balde: 7.1/10 – A lively presence on the left flank.
• Gavi: 6.5/10 – Energetic but lacked precision.
• Marc Casado: 7.3/10 – Dictated play well before being substituted.
• Pedri: 8.2/10 – A creative force throughout.
• Lamine Yamal: 8.0/10 – Constantly troubled Benfica’s defense.
• Robert Lewandowski: 8.8/10 – Clinical from the penalty spot and led the line effectively.
• Raphinha: 9.3/10 – Match-winner with a stunning late goal.

Substitutes: Eric Garcia – 7.5/10, Ferran Torres – 7.2/10, Frenkie de Jong – 6.3/10, Fermin Lopez – 6.4/10.