Benfica Barcelona Report Champions League

Benfica played their last home game in the Champions League, hosting Barcelona in round 7 of the competition. The team put in a great display at the Estádio da Luz (in front of 63,225 fans), and Pavlidis signed his first hat-trick for the Eagles. However, poor refereeing and a goal conceded in stoppage time brought injustice to the outcome (4-5).

For the game against Barcelona, Bruno Lage chose an eleven with just one change from the team's previous Liga Betclic match against Famalição: Aursnes started in place of Barreiro. The eagles took to the field with Trubin, Tomás Araújo, António Silva, Otamendi, Álvaro Carreras, Florentino, Aursnes, Kökcü, Aktürkoğlu, Schjelderup and Pavlidis.

The Blaugrana even showed themselves with a left-footed shot from Lamine Yamal that ended up in Trubin's hands. In response, the Eagles launched a blistering attack: Tomás Araújo's long pass from midfield, Álvaro Carreras crossing from the left wing into the heart of the opposing penalty area, where Schjelderup appeared at the near post, but it was Pavlidis who, coming from behind, finished lethally (1-0, after 2 minutes). The ball hit the left-hand post, and what an explosion of joy was seen and felt in the stands of the Estádio da Luz!

The game was frantic, with both teams looking for a goal. It was stop and go until, in the 11th minute, a penalty was awarded to Barcelona: Balde handled the ball and fell in a dispute with Tomás Araújo. The referee still ordered a corner kick, but, called by the VAR, decided to signal a penalty. Lewandowski didn't miss (1-1, 13').

In the 20th minute, Otamendi put the ball in deep and, after a collision between Szczesny and Balde, Pavlidis took off towards a deserted goal and slotted home to make it 2-1 (22').

Benfica were growing and wanted more and more, they could feel the energy in the stands pushing them on, and they threatened again after 27 minutes: Aktürkoğlu crossed to the left, where Schjelderup only failed to catch the ball due to a deflection for a corner. The next minute, a penalty for Benfica! A great opening from Aursnes for Aktürkoğlu, who, in the area, chipped the ball over Szczesny and was brought down by the goalkeeper. Pavlidis was exemplary when he converted the penalty and scored his first hat-trick in a Benfica jersey (3-1, 30').

The first half ended with Barcelona trying to force their way into the Reds' back four, only to be barred time and time again by the impeccable collective defensive work and solidarity of Bruno Lage's side.

In his first change to freshen up the team, Bruno Lage replaced Aursnes with Barreiro. In the 64th minute, a setback for Benfica: Trubin launched the ball forward, but the ball hit Raphinha and ricocheted into the net (3-2, 64th minute). This misfortune was nothing more than a prelude to a new response from the Reds. Four minutes later, after a Schjelderup run down the left, the ball was crossed into the Blaugrana penalty area, where Ronald Araújo, in order to get ahead of Pavlidis, scored... an own goal (4-2, 68').

In the 78th minute, another penalty for Barcelona (a fall by Lamine Yamal in the Reds' penalty area, with the referee ruling that Álvaro Carreras had fouled the forward) and another penalty conversion by Lewandowski (4-3, in the 78th minute).

Kökcü and Pavlidis then gave way to Rollheiser and Amdouni (80') in the Reds' lineup, just before a cold shower hit Luz. Eric García headed home the equalizer from Pedri's cross (4-4, 86').

The final blow of injustice came with a refereeing controversy, after a situation in which a penalty should have been awarded in Benfica's favor. At 90'+5', Di María took a free kick into the Catalan penalty area where, after some scrambling, Barreiro was brought down from behind. The referee didn't award a penalty kick, ordered play to continue, and Barcelona went on the counter-attack. Raphinha made rapid progress down the right, forced his way into the Reds' penalty area and shot to make it 4-5. Despite justified complaints from the Reds and subsequent analysis by the VAR, the foul (for a penalty) on the Luxembourg international was not given and the goal counted. The match ended soon after.

The eagles' next match is on Saturday, January 25, at 6 pm, at the Estádio Municipal in Rio Maior, against Casa Pia, for matchday 19 of the Liga Betclic.

As for the league phase of the Champions League, Benfica will close their account on Wednesday, January 29, at the Juventus Stadium. The match of the 8th and final round of the Champions League stage, which determines the passage to the next stage of the competition, kicks off at 8 pm.

Text: Pedro Miguel Azevedo
Photos: Cátia Luís and Tânia Paulo / SL Benfica
Last update: Wednesday, January 22, 2025