Benfica Stuns Barcelona 3-1 in Champions League Clash

LISBON, Portugal — Benfica delivered a stunning 3-1 victory over Barcelona in a thrilling Champions League encounter at the Estádio da Luz on Tuesday, complicating the Spanish giants’ path to the knockout stages.

The match began disastrously for Barcelona as Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis opened the scoring in the 2nd minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse. Barcelona responded with a penalty converted by Robert Lewandowski in the 13th minute, leveling the score at 1-1. However, defensive errors continued to plague the visitors.

Barcelona’s goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny had a night to forget, committing a costly mistake in the 23rd minute. His failed clearance led to Pavlidis scoring his second goal, putting Benfica back in the lead. Szczesny’s woes deepened when he conceded a penalty in the 27th minute, which Pavlidis calmly converted to complete his hat-trick and seal a 3-1 victory for the hosts.

“It was a tough night for us,” said Barcelona coach Hansi Flick. “We made too many mistakes, and Benfica punished us. We need to regroup quickly.”

Benfica’s manager Bruno Lage praised his team’s resilience. “The players executed the plan perfectly. Pavlidis was exceptional, and the team showed great character,” he said.

With this defeat, Barcelona’s hopes of securing a direct spot in the Round of 16 are now in jeopardy. Benfica, meanwhile, strengthened their position in the group, keeping their knockout stage dreams alive.