FC Barcelona staged an incredible comeback to beat Benfica 5-4 in the Champions League, propelling themselves into second place in the league phase. The Catalans trailed 3-1 at halftime but showed remarkable resilience to mount a stunning remontada.
Robert Lewandowski scored a penalty in the 13th minute and completed his hat-trick after Wojciech Szczesny’s error, which gave the Greeks their three-goal lead. However, Raphinha’s goal in the 54th minute sparked Barca’s resurgence as Ronald Araujo scored an own goal to level the match at 4-2.
The turning point came when Eric Garcia equalized with a bullet header after Pedri’s cross. The match entered a tense phase of cagey soccer, but Raphinha sealed the win in stoppage time with his eighth strike in seven UCL outings this term.
Barca’s dramatic comeback has secured their spot in the Champions League knockout phase and ensured they will finish at least in the top 8 of the league. Their final match against Atalanta on January 29 will be played at Montjuic.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomsanderson/2025/01/21/fc-barcelona-completes-champions-league-comeback-for-the-ages-to-beat-benfica-in-nine-goal-thriller