A thrilling match in the UEFA Champions League saw Barcelona stage an incredible comeback against Benfica, winning 5-4 with a last-minute goal in the 95th minute.
Barcelona, with a total squad value of 1 billion euros, faced off against Benfica, who are second in the Portuguese league. Despite a mediocre domestic season, Barcelona has been performing well in the Champions League, securing second place after six group stage matches with five wins and one loss.
The match began with Barcelona lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, led by Lewandowski upfront. Rafinha, Gavi, and Yarmal formed the attacking trio, supported by Pedri and Casado in midfield. The defense consisted of Balde, Kubasi, Araujo, and Kounde, with Szczesny in goal. Barcelona's starting lineup had a total value of 721 million euros, significantly higher than Benfica's 236 million euros.
The game started with an early setback for Barcelona as they conceded a goal within two minutes. Alvaro's cross from the left was met by Pavlidis' push shot, putting Barcelona in an early hole. Four minutes later, Orsnes had a chance to equalize but missed the target. In the 12th minute, Barcelona was awarded a penalty after Balde was fouled. Lewandowski stepped up and successfully deceived the goalkeeper to level the score.
In the 22nd minute, Barcelona conceded again due to Szczesni's blunder, allowing Pavlidis to easily score into an empty net. Eight minutes later, Szczesni made another mistake, gifting the opposition a penalty. Pavlidis converted it to complete his hat-trick, highlighting Szczesni's disastrous performance. Just before halftime, Rafinha's shot from the left side of the box went wide, leaving Barcelona trailing 1-3 at the break.
In the second half, Barcelona struggled to find their rhythm. In the 50th minute, Kounde's weak shot from the center of the box was easily saved by the goalkeeper. Eight minutes later, Yarmal's long-range effort soared over the bar. In the 64th minute, Benfica's goalkeeper made a costly error, allowing Rafinha to head the ball into the net from outside the box. However, just four minutes later, Barcelona conceded yet another goal, this time an own goal by Araujo.
Despite the setbacks, Barcelona fought back. In the 78th minute, Lewandowski scored his second goal from the spot, and in the 86th minute, Garcia's header brought Barcelona level. Then, in the dying moments of the match, Barcelona completed their remarkable comeback. Rafinha broke through on a counter-attack and scored the winning goal in the 95th minute, sealing a 5-4 victory for Barcelona.
This match will be remembered for its dramatic plot twists, including three penalties and an own goal. Barcelona's incredible fightback and last-gasp victory will go down as one of the most exciting matches in recent Champions League history.