
THIS FCB NEVER GIVES UP!
Benfica-Barça, the living example of the new resilient character of the culé team
Published:22/01/2025 - 13:01h
Updated:22/01/2025 - 14:18h
FC Barcelona lived an unforgettable day in the Champions League by beating Benfica, in a match where the most resilient character of the Barça team was shown
The clash between SL Benfica and FC Barcelona (4-5) was a true ode to football and also to the unusual. A match where truly everything was seen: penalties, own goals, scoring from unusual mistakes, and a comeback that can only be classified as epic, due to its special nature, culminating in a goal from Raphinha at 90+6' during a lethal counterattack.
Now, one of the attributes that FC Barcelona displayed, which demonstrates the psychological strength of a team destined for greatness, was undoubtedly their resilience. With a significant blow of authority, they managed to face a complicated match, where on countless occasions it seemed that everything was against them to surrender.
However, they found tactical, athletic, and even 'mystical' solutions to turn the score around in a venue that brought them bad memories: the Estádio da Luz, where Bayern Munich inflicted a harsh 2-8 defeat in 2020. Facing a Lisbon team that, apparently, had their number, as the culés had been unable to beat them in three consecutive matches.
Barcelona had to row against the tide very early in the match
The story began with great complexity for Hansi Flick's team, as they were forced to come back from the 2nd minute when the Greek Vangelis Pavlidis managed to score with one of Benfica's first offensive incursions. The Thessaloniki native took advantage of an excellent cross into the area from Álvaro Carreras and sent the ball to the back of the net while Pau Cubarsí watched helplessly, unable to reach in time to close down the space.
However, far from representing a blow to the morale of Barcelona, this acted as a significant stimulus, as they were not going to be discouraged by that deficit on the scoreboard. Just 13 minutes later, Robert Lewandowski equalized the score with a penalty executed in a sober and precise manner. This action resulted from a foul committed on Alejandro Balde inside the area.
Szczęsny, the great momentary 'antagonist'
After this goal, what seemed to herald another possible debacle for Barcelona in the Champions League occurred, as Benfica managed to increase their lead with two truly incredible goals. The 2-1 came in the 22nd minute, after a chaotic play in which Szczęsny and Alejandro Balde failed to communicate, colliding while trying to clear the ball and leaving Pavlidis completely alone to score.
Then, the 3-1, also scored by the Greek, came in the 30th minute through a rather questionable penalty committed by Szczęsny on Kerem Aktürkoğlu.
The azulgrana team did not falter despite being down 3-1
Going into the halftime break down 3-1 could demoralize any team, especially when they could not find solutions on the field against a Benfica that seemed to have fortune on their side. However, Barcelona managed to cut the deficit early in the second half thanks to Raphinha, who scored the 3-2 in the 64th minute with a fortunate header, sending the ball to the back of the net after a poor clearance from the back by Anatoliy Trubin.
This goal ignited the belief in the possibility of a comeback that, almost immediately, received another blow, as in the 68th minute Ronald Araujo scored an own goal, extending the lead to 4-2 in favor of the Lisbon side, leaving the culé club with only 20 minutes to try to reverse the situation. Nevertheless, the team did not give up and continued to seek the result, and finally began to forge their historic comeback in the 78th minute with a penalty goal from Robert Lewandowski, bringing the score to 4-3.
Barcelona ended up sealing their most resilient comeback in recent times
Barcelona equalized the score in the 86th minute with a goal from Eric García. He, completely involved in the attack as if he were another forward, headed the ball with great technique from a magnificent cross sent into the area by Pedri González.
This goal achieved an equalizer that, far from satisfying Barça, ignited the spark needed to initiate the comeback. The situation was clearly in danger when, in the 88th minute, Benfica launched a brutal counterattack in which Ángel Di María found himself one-on-one with Szczęsny and the Polish goalkeeper excellently repelled the shot.
After that, in the 90+6th minute, the azulgrana team secured victory with a lethal counterattack, orchestrated after a dangerous play in favor of Benfica. Fermín López cleared the ball, which reached Ferran Torres, who made a long pass that sent Raphinha running.
After a long run from the midfield area, Raphinha reached a scoring position, shook off the marks of two opponents and skillfully finished to put the score at 4-5 and seal Barcelona's comeback. This match was an exemplary display of resilience, demonstrating how difficult it is to defeat a team that never gives up and always keeps the possibility of victory alive.