Synopsis
On January 22, FC Barcelona pulled off a stunning comeback against Benfica, winning 5-4 in a thrilling Champions League match. Meanwhile, Liverpool secured their last-16 qualification with a 2-1 win over Lille, confirming their strong position in the tournament.Key Takeaways
- FC Barcelona achieved a dramatic comeback against Benfica.
- Lewandowski played a crucial role with two penalties.
- Raphinha scored the winning goal in stoppage time.
- Liverpool secured their place in the last-16 round.
- Mohamed Salah reached 50 European goals for Liverpool.
Lisbon, Jan 22 (NationPress) FC Barcelona clinched a thrilling victory in stoppage time during a sensational nine-goal match against Benfica at a rain-soaked Estadio da Luz.
In an incredible comeback, FC Barcelona outscored Benfica 5-4, overcoming a 4-2 deficit with just 13 minutes remaining.
This remarkable victory featured two penalties from Lewandowski, a header from Eric Garcia, and a brace from Raphinha, who netted the decisive goal late into injury time, securing FC Barcelona's spot in the last sixteen of the Champions League.
Vangelis Pavlidis dominated the first half with a hat-trick, putting Benfica ahead, with only Lewandowski's penalty providing a glimmer of hope for the hosts.
After halftime, Raphinha narrowed the gap, benefiting from a poor clearance by Anatoliy Trubin, but Ronald Araújo inadvertently extended Benfica's lead with an own goal.
However, Lewandowski scored from the spot in the 78th minute, and Eric García reacted quickly to head in a beautiful cross from Pedri. Raphinha then surged forward to score again, completing a stunning comeback.
In other news, Liverpool secured a place in the last 16 of the Champions League after defeating 10-man Lille at Anfield.
Goals by Mohamed Salah and Harvey Elliott secured a 2-1 victory for Liverpool, marking their seventh consecutive win.
Mohamed Salah opened the scoring in the 34th minute, marking his 50th European goal for the Reds after receiving a pass from Curtis Jones.
Despite Aissa Mandi's red card for a second bookable offense, Jonathan David equalized for the visitors in the 62nd minute. However, a deflected shot from Harvey Elliott soon restored Liverpool's lead.
Liverpool will be seeded in the Round of 16, preparing to face a competitor from the knockout play-offs, involving teams ranked from ninth to 24th in the league phase.
The last-16 matches are set for March 4 and 5, and March 11 and 12, with the second leg taking place at Anfield.
Draws for the last 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final are scheduled for February 21.