Supporters of «Barcelona» and «Benfica» witnessed a wild 5:4 encounter in Lisbon that many observers considered the most dramatic Champions League match of the season. Both teams unleashed a torrent of attacking play, and the crowd found it hard to keep track of the constant shifts in momentum. Analysts believed that the relentless pace, defensive lapses, and individual brilliance turned the showdown into a surreal offensive spectacle.
1xbet mobile provides predictions for the ongoing Champions League season, offering insights into match outcomes and team performances. More details about such apps can be found on beton.ng.
Observers noted that everything escalated quickly: «Benfica» opened the scoring in the second minute, which immediately generated a tense atmosphere. Ten minutes later, Robert Lewandowski leveled the match for «Barcelona» from the penalty spot, revealing how comfortable he felt in high-pressure situations. Some specialists believed that the early goals unsettled the defenses, since the first half soon turned chaotic. Even neutral fans remarked that the match looked more like a back-and-forth street game than a disciplined European contest.
Commentators who examined the first-half meltdown saw that «Barcelona» conceded three times before halftime for the first time in the Champions League since the infamous 2:8 loss to «Bayern» in 2020. The parallels struck many observers, especially considering that match had also taken place in Lisbon during a pandemic-affected schedule. In this current game, the storyline shifted around the 27th minute, when it seemed that goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny lost composure. He came off his line unnecessarily, collided with Alejandro Balde, and left the net exposed for Evangelos Pavlidis to score into an empty goal. Later, Szczęsny conceded a penalty that led to a hat-trick for Pavlidis. Critics believed these repeated miscalculations placed «Barcelona» in a difficult position, since the team found itself trailing 3:1 by halftime.
Analysts then noticed an unusual sequence of events after the break, when «Benfica» capitalized on the confusion in «Barcelona»’s defense. Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin attempted to clear the ball but instead struck Raphinha’s head, resulting in a beneficial ricochet. Soon after, Ronald Araújo accidentally turned a cross into his own net, which stretched the score to 4:2. At that point, many spectators assumed «Benfica» had secured victory. However, tactical observers insisted that Hansi Flick, the head coach of «Barcelona», made crucial changes to switch momentum. He decided to revert to a three-at-the-back system and add extra numbers in attack, pushing Ferran Torres and Raphinha into the half-spaces behind a central striker, with Fermin López and Lamine Yamal adding width.
From the 78th minute onward, «Barcelona» took full advantage of this offensive reshuffle. Lewandowski converted another penalty after Yamal drew a foul, narrowing the score to 4:3. Defender Eric García, whom «Barcelona» reportedly wanted to sell, then scored off a Pedri assist in the 86th minute, leveling the match at 4:4. Journalists noted that «Benfica» tried to respond, but their push for a winning goal backfired in added time. The final blow arrived in the 90+6th minute, when Ferran Torres launched a decisive pass to Raphinha, who dribbled around both Fernández and Trubin to complete the comeback. By the final whistle, the scoreboard read 5:4, reflecting a match in which «Barcelona» overcame a two-goal deficit twice.
