Bizarre goal and stoppage-time winner cap chaotic night in Portugal
Barcelona edged out Benfica in a thrilling 5-4 Champions League clash, capped by one of the season’s strangest goals from Raphinha and a last-gasp winner in the 96th minute. The match, hailed as one of the most chaotic in tournament history, was a rollercoaster of controversy, defensive errors, and relentless drama.
Benfica took an early lead thanks to Vangelis Pavlidis, who scored a first-half hat-trick, giving the hosts a commanding 3-1 advantage. Barcelona’s lone response in the first half came through a Robert Lewandowski penalty, keeping the visitors within striking distance.
The game took an unexpected turn when Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin inadvertently handed Barcelona a lifeline. Attempting to clear the ball, Trubin smashed it directly into Raphinha’s forehead. To everyone’s astonishment, the ball rebounded into the net, leaving commentators Ian Darke and Glenn Hoddle in disbelief.
“Dear me, unbelievable, that is amazing,” exclaimed Hoddle. “Football never ceases to amaze you, all the intricate play from Barcelona, and then they score like that.”
The bizarre goal energized Barcelona, but the drama was far from over. Wojciech Szczesny, starting in goal for Barcelona, had a night to forget. The former Arsenal goalkeeper gifted Pavlidis his hat-trick with a reckless rush off his line and later conceded a penalty.
Despite the setbacks, Barcelona clawed their way back. Lewandowski converted a second penalty, and Eric Garcia netted a late equalizer, leveling the score at 4-4. With tension mounting, Benfica pushed for a decisive fifth goal and appeared to be denied a stoppage-time penalty after a contentious push in the box.
Barcelona capitalized on the chaos, surging forward to set up Raphinha for his dramatic 96th-minute winner. The Brazilian cut inside and fired a low shot past Trubin, sealing an extraordinary victory.
Adding to the drama, Benfica’s Arthur Cabral received a red card deep into stoppage time, capping a tumultuous night. Post-match, Benfica manager Bruno Lage publicly berated his players on the rain-soaked pitch, visibly furious with their collapse.
Pundits were divided in their analysis of the game. Alan Hutton called it a “crazy encapsulation” of football’s unpredictability, while Joleon Lescott marveled at the sheer volume of incidents.
“You can dissect it any way you want,” said Lescott. “Barcelona’s mentality to come back was incredible, but Benfica’s defensive lapses were shocking.”
The win solidifies Barcelona’s place in the Champions League top eight, while Benfica is left to regroup after a gut-wrenching defeat.
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