Barcelona hero Raphinha declared he is in the best form of his career after his 96th-minute strike handed the Blaugrana a stunning 5-4 Champions League win over Benfica. (More Football News)
Raphinha scored twice as Barcelona booked their place in the competition's last 16 by fighting back from 3-1 an🧜d 4-2 down to win an incredible game in Lisbon.
Raphinha's winning goal – a low strike on the counter attack moments✨ after Benfica🃏 had a penalty appeal knocked back – was timed at 95 minutes and eight seconds.
That is Barcelona's latest winning goal on record in the competition (since 2003-04), while his 10 goal involvements (eight goals, two assists) are the most of any pla𒅌yer in the Champions League this seaso๊n.
Speaking to Movistar after his dramatic intervention, the Brazilian said: "I think♊ I'm in the best moment of my career.
"We knew it would be a pretty tough game. I know the difficulty of playing here, in front of their fans. They know how to play veꦿry well and have players of the 𒆙highest level.
"We didn't fall apart at 3-1 in the first half. We came back focused to change the game. It was 🧔a spectacular match for every🦋one. Benfica could very well have won, but we took it."
Tuesday's game was the first in Champions League history to finish 5-4, with Barca becoming just the second team to win a match in the competition despite conceding four goals (after Borౠussia Dortmund 8-4 Legi🎃a Warsaw in November 2016).
It was also the first time Barca had come fro𒈔m two goals down to win a European Cup or Champions League game, and just the second match in the compe♎tition to see Benfica lose after going two goals up (after a 3-2 loss to Red Star Belgrade in September 1984).
Head coach Hansi♛ Flick said of their fightback: "The most positive thing was the mentality we had, we came back and it's wonderful🦹, this is football.
"I have nev🃏er experienced a come⛄back like this. Benfica are very good, they made us defend deep."
Both sets of 💧players became involved in a fracas at full-time, and Raphinha c🌠laims a number of Benfica players – infuriated by the failure to penalise Fermin Lopez in the build-up to the winner – hurled insults at him.
"I am a person who respects everyone. When I left the field there were people who insulted me. I returned the insults, I know I shouldn't," the winger🍌 said.
"We all got heated, but th💞e Benfica players preferred to insult me. I'm a person who doesn't take anything home.
"I respect if they respect me, but I don't shut up if they insult me. ꦆIt's normal after a game that ends like this."
