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Barca score wild comeback victory at Benfica

Barca score wild comeback victory at Benfica
Barcelona's Raphinha celebrates his side's fifth goal during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between SL Benfica and FC Barcelona at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP)
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Updated 22 January 2025

Barca score wild comeback victory at Benfica

Barca score wild comeback victory at Benfica
  • With Benfica appealing for a penalty, Barcelona sprang a quick breakaway and the Brazilian winger slotted home to end a blockbuster clash

LISBON: Raphinha struck a dramatic winner in stoppage time as Barcelona came from behind to beat Benfica 5-4 in a wild match on Tuesday and virtually ensure direct qualification to the Champions League last 16.
Benfica were leading 4-2 with under 15 minutes remaining but Barcelona mounted a stunning late comeback to stay three points behind leaders Liverpool.
Vangelis Pavlidis hit a first-half hat-trick for the hosts, in part thanks to two big errors by Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
However a Robert Lewandowski double from the penalty spot, Eric Garcia’s header and a brace for Raphinha helped Barcelona claim a stunning late triumph in Lisbon.
Benfica opened the scoring in the second minute, when Pavlidis escaped Pau Cubarsi and fired home from Alvaro Carreras’ low cross.
Barcelona responded swiftly with Lewandowski scoring from the penalty spot after Alejandro Balde was brought down by Benfica defender Tomas Araujo.
The hosts nosed back ahead through a stroke of luck, when Szczesny raced out of his goal to try and cut out a through-ball, but crashed into Balde.
Greece international Pavlidis gleefully collected the loose ball and rolled his second into the empty net.
Barcelona, who lured Szczesny out of retirement to replace the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen in October, soon fell further behind.
Pavlidis completed his half-hour hat-trick with a penalty after another Szczesny mistake, with the goalkeeper flying in to try and dispossess Kerem Akturkoglu but bringing him down.
Lamine Yamal and Raphinha missed good chances before the break as Barcelona pushed forward.
Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin saved from Jules Kounde, who should have scored, and Lewandowski could not turn home from Pedri’s dangerous ball across the face of goal.
Raphinha pulled one back for Barcelona in bizarre fashion as a clearance by Trubin struck his head on the edge of the area and flew back into the net.
However, Benfica soon struck again, with Ronald Araujo nudging past Szczesny into his own net as he tried to cut out a cross.
Barcelona kept pushing and Lewandowski converted another penalty after Nicolas Otamendi brought down Yamal.
The Catalan giants, who last won the Champions League in 2015, pulled level when substitute Garcia headed home from Pedri’s inviting cross.
Szczesny saved former Real Madrid star Angel Di Maria’s low shot before Raphinha’s dramatic winner.
With Benfica appealing for a penalty, Barcelona sprang a quick breakaway and the Brazilian winger slotted home to end a blockbuster clash.


UAE jiu-jitsu national team wins 7 medals at championship in Thailand

UAE jiu-jitsu national team wins 7 medals at championship in Thailand
Updated 09 November 2025

UAE jiu-jitsu national team wins 7 medals at championship in Thailand

UAE jiu-jitsu national team wins 7 medals at championship in Thailand
  • Emirati athlete took 2 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze on opening day of the tournament

BANGKOK: The UAE jiu-jitsu national team kicked off its participation in the 2025 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship with an impressive haul of seven medals, including two gold, two silver and three bronze, in the boys’ U-16 category.

The tournament features competition in the U-16, U-18 and U-21 age groups and runs from Nov. 8-14.

Ali Al-Najar and Hazza Al-Kaabi won gold in the 52kg and 56kg categories, while Rakan Al-Yammahi and Ghanem Al-Ali took silver in the 44kg and 52kg divisions. Mohammed Juma Al-Darmaki, Khalfan Al-Qubaisi and Fahad Saoud Al-Dhaheri earned bronze in the 40kg, 56kg and 62kg categories, respectively, marking a strong start for the UAE team on the opening day of the championship.

Mubarak Saleh Al-Menhali, director of the technical department at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, praised the athletes on their strong performances on the opening day, saying that the results mark a promising start for the national team in this major event.

“Today’s results spotlight a new generation of athletes that embodies our vision of building a strong base of champions capable of competing at the highest levels,†he said. “These achievements are the result of our preparation programs and training camps focused on developing skill and mental discipline.â€

Al-Menhali added that the national team’s performances reflect their confidence in their abilities, highlighting that investing in youth divisions is the most effective way to ensure the continued success of UAE jiu-jitsu.

Gold medalist Al-Najar commented: “Winning gold at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship has always been a dream for me. I’m proud to have raised the UAE flag on the global stage. The matches were tough, but the confidence we gained from training and the support of our coaches made all the difference. I dedicate this medal to our leadership and the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation for giving us everything we need to succeed. I’ll keep working hard to win more titles in the future.â€

The UAE’s other gold winner Al-Kaabi said: “The competition was strong from the first match, but our focus and team spirit pushed us to give our best. Standing on the podium and hearing the UAE national anthem was an unforgettable moment.â€

The championship continues on Sunday, Nov. 9, with the girls’ U-16 category.