Home Sports The craziest Champions League game of all time? Barcelona seal stunning 5-4 comeback win over Benfica in last minute after bizarre goals, a red card, chaos and controversy

The craziest Champions League game of all time? Barcelona seal stunning 5-4 comeback win over Benfica in last minute after bizarre goals, a red card, chaos and controversy

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Raphinha's late goal gave Barcelona a dramatic 5-4 victory over Benfica on Tuesday night.

Raphinha scored in added time as Barcelona pulled off a stunning 5-4 comeback victory over Benfica in one of the most chaotic Champions League matches of all time.

The Brazilian was taken off in the sixth minute of added time, while Benfica players protested a last-gasp penalty at the other end.

Raphinha beat Anatoliy Trubin to shock the hosts and spark wild celebrations from Barcelona as Hansi Flick’s side secured their place in the last 16.

Benfica saw their furious penalty appeals dismissed by VAR, and the full-time whistle blew immediately after the restart to conclude the dramatic match.

The hosts had taken the lead within two minutes with a shot by Vangelis Pavlidis from close range.

Robert Lewandowski tied from the spot when VAR awarded Barça a penalty for a foul by Tomás Araujo on Alejandro Balde in the 11th minute.

Raphinha’s late goal gave Barcelona a dramatic 5-4 victory over Benfica on Tuesday night.

Benfica was devastated to see them lose the lead in the final minutes of the match

Benfica was devastated to see them lose the lead in the final minutes of the match

Raphinha's goal came in the midst of controversy, as Benfica asked for a penalty in the other field.

Raphinha’s goal came in the midst of controversy, as Benfica asked for a penalty in the other field.

Two howlers from Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny gave Benfica a two-goal lead.

Szczesny, who came out of retirement to solve Barcelona’s injury crisis, ran out of the goal and collided with teammate Balde.

Pavlidis was on hand to guide the ball into the empty goal and put Benfica up 2-1.

The striker completed a first-half hat-trick from the penalty spot after Szczesny fouled Kerem Akturkoglu in the area.

Barcelona received a lifeline in the second half thanks to another error by the goalkeeper.

Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin cleared the ball directly at Raphinha’s head, and the ball bounced strangely into the net in the 64th minute.

The chaos continued when Benfica restored their two-goal lead four minutes later.

A cross from Andreas Schjelderup was deflected into his own goal by Ronald Araujo and left Barcelona with the prospect of defeat.

Wojciech Szczesny collided with his teammate Alejandro Balde and gave Benfica the second goal

Wojciech Szczesny collided with his teammate Alejandro Balde and gave Benfica the second goal

Szczesny awarded the penalty which allowed Vangelis Pavlidis to complete his hat-trick.

Szczesny then awarded the penalty which allowed Vangelis Pavlidis to complete his hat-trick.

Barcelona set up a grandstand finish when Lewandowski converted his second penalty into the net, and the referee dismissed Benfica’s protests by awarding the penalty.

The Catalan giants equalized in the 86th minute with Eric Garcia rising highest to place a header into the Benfica net.

A dramatic finish followed as Benfica appealed in vain for a second penalty that night, only for Barcelona to break clear and score the winning goal through Raphinha.

Tempers flared at the end when the Portuguese team protested at not having awarded a penalty in the build-up to the winning goal, and substitute Arthur Cabral was sent off straight from the bench.

Raphinha attacked the Benfica players after the match, with the Barcelona captain claiming he had been insulted following the winning goal.

“They insulted me at the end of the game and I insulted them back,” Raphinha said.

‘If they respect me, I respect them. In my opinion they could have understood the situation, but they preferred to insult me.’

Benfica coach Bruno Lage was seen after the final whistle offering vocal criticism to his players after holding a two-goal lead twice in the match, only to lose.

An own goal allowed Benfica to restore a two-goal lead before suffering a late collapse.

An own goal allowed Benfica to restore a two-goal lead before suffering a late collapse.

Robert Lewandowski scored his second penalty of the night to set up the finale in the stands.

Robert Lewandowski scored his second penalty of the night to set up the finale in the stands.

Eric García tied the game four minutes from time before Barcelona's dramatic winner.

Eric García tied the game four minutes from time before Barcelona’s dramatic winner.

‘Enormous frustration with the result. “A great pride in the performance and the support of the Benfica family from start to finish,” said Lage after the match.

‘We have to get up. “We have to look forward, learn from the result, from the last minutes of the game.”

The result keeps Barcelona second in the Champions League standings, three points behind leaders Liverpool, but assured of a place in the last 16.

Benfica are 18th in the table, but are well placed to secure a place in the play-offs.

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