The UEFA Champions League unusually returned to us at a time when even January had not yet ended. But such are the realities of modern football, in which some changes are also constantly taking place. And therefore it was worth remembering in what position we left the teams in the overall tournament table, where there was still a lot of room for intrigue.

In particular, even Lisbon’s Benfica, with their ten points, could not guarantee themselves a quiet life in the final two rounds, as they could still be pushed out of the play-off zone by their pursuers. In particular, Shakhtar Donetsk with its modest score of four points. But for this, for example, the Catalan Barcelona had to try very hard and beat Bruno Lager’s team on a foreign field.

The fans were surprised at the very beginning of the game. Barcelona made their usual run forward, but instead received a throw-in behind the defender on the left flank for Carreras, who found Pavlidis in the center of the box with a cross. The game lasted only two minutes. Obviously, Hans-Dieter Flick’s team after that ran to look for happiness again at someone else’s gate.

However, Benfica always tried to catch opponents on counterattacks and were very close to the second goal almost immediately, but Eursnes missed in the center of the penalty area in a similar situation. And in the 11th minute, Araujo stepped on Balde’s foot on the right flank of his own free kick and scored a penalty on an even spot. Lewandowski’s kick to the right corner from the mark was missed by Trubin.

It would seem that the “Blaugranas” should regain full control of the situation and put pressure on the opponents’ possession. But no – the last link of Barcelona’s defense began to crack. “Pensioner” Wojciech Szczesny first, in the 22nd minute, flew into Balde outside the penalty area during a throw-in from deep, after which Pavlidis found himself with an empty goal, and in a few moments the Pole threw himself at Aktürkoglu’s feet on the left flank of his possession, brought a penalty, and the Greek the forward issued hat trick This was not in the plans.

We returned for the second half already due to the fact that the downpour in Lisbon was simply crazy, so no one could predict what exactly would happen on the field in the future. Meanwhile, the momentum of the team gained terrible momentum almost immediately, and with moments from Kunde and Eursnes in the opening eight minutes, we should have seen goals from both sides, but the performers were in no hurry to realize the opportunities.

However, in the 64th minute, Anatolii Trubin decided to give Barcelona hope for salvation, and with a shot from his own goalkeeper, he hit the ball in the head of Rafinha outside the penalty area, and the rebound went straight to the collar of the Ukrainian goalkeeper. However, the Catalans did not rejoice for long, because in a moment Schelderup’s cross from the left flank at the near post was cut into his own goal by Araujo, so the guests continued to lose by two goals.

Benfica’s problem at the same time was that it seemed to have attacks in counterattacks before the end of the game and more than once, but Lager’s team did not manage to score a single goal. Including, due to the successful actions of Szczesna in the goal, although there were not too many of them in this match.

Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the field, strange things were happening here and there. Like, for example, the penalty on Yamal on the right wing of the free kick, which Carreras brought by simply putting his hand on the opponent’s shoulder. Is this still prescribed in the era of VAR? Judging by everything, they are assigned, because before Lewandowski hit the right corner again from the mark, the referees did not have any questions.

But this is only part of the final comeback of Barcelona, ​​which according to the nature of the development of events could really be considered legendary. Benfica conceded again in the 86th minute when a corner on the left wing ended with Pedra’s long-range cross onto Garcia’s head, which was not followed by Trubin. And it was already 4:4 on the scoreboard, and there was still a lot to play.

In the closing minutes of the match, the ball was not held in midfield and the solution came in the closing seconds when the Eagles took a free-kick from the left wing and while everyone was dealing with the fall of their player in the fight, Ferran launched a pass to the right wing of the counter attack , where Rafinha taunted the defender and Trubin with a shot into the near corner from the edge of the penalty area. It is not surprising that after all these events, it was useless to ask the home players to calm down.

In the final round, Lisbon’s Benfica will play away at Turin’s Juventus, while Catalonia’s Barcelona will host Atalanta of Bergamo.

Benfica — Barcelona 4:5
Goals: Pavlidis, 2, 22, 30 (pen.), Araujo, 68 (auto) — Lewandowski, 13 (pen.), 78 (pen.), Rafinha, 64, 90+6, Garcia, 86

Benfica: Trubin – Araujo, Silva, Otamendi, Carreras – Eursnes (Barreiro, 61), Florentin, Kecchiu – Akturkoglu, Pavlidis, Schelderup.

Barcelona: Szczesny — Kunde, Araujo, Kubarsi, Balde — Pedri, Casado (de Jong, 62), Gavi (Fermin, 62) — Yamal, Lewandowski, Rafinha.

Warnings: Carreras – Gavi, Kunde, de Jong, Fermin

Artur Cabral (Benfica) was sent off in the 90th + 8th minute (unsportsmanlike conduct, off the field).