Barcelona’s UEFA Champions League match against Benfica on January 21, 2025, was full of drama. 

Barça fought hard to secure a 5-4 win at Estádio da Luz, but it wasn’t without mistakes. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny admitted responsibility for two costly errors that nearly put the team in trouble.

Szczęsny’s first mistake came in the 17th minute when Benfica's defender Otamendi sprays a raking pass forward, Szczęsny dashes out and collides with Balde, and Benfica's Pavlidis has the simple task of rolling the ball into an unguarded net to make it 2-1.

Explaining the incident, Szczęsny said, “I went for the ball at the right time, but Balde didn’t hear me. It was a communication problem. These things happen when both players want to win the ball. I shouted, but he didn’t hear me. Sadly, it ended in a goal," AS SPORT reports.

Despite the setback, Szczęsny managed to stay composed—until another misstep in the 28th minute gave Benfica the lead once again. 

The Barça goalkeeper misplaced a pass while trying to play out from the back and in trying to salvage the situation, he made wreckless challenge on Akturkoglu and the referee Danny Makkelie blows his whistle for a penalty which Pavlidis converts to make it 3-1 for the home team and put Barça under immense pressure.

Szczęsny owned up to the mistake, saying, “At first, I thought there wasn’t any contact, but the replay showed it was a penalty. That one’s on me, and I take full responsibility.”

While Szczęsny’s night had its low points, he delivered a crucial moment late in the second half, denying Angel Di María with acrobatic save in what could've been the winner for the homeside. This pivotal stop kept Barcelona in the game, laying the foundation for their late comeback.

Szczęsny speaking about that moment brushed off any notion of redemption. “Stopping Di María wasn’t about redemption—it was about frustration and determination,” he explained. “I wanted to make a difference for my team after those errors. We could’ve accepted the 4-4, but we wanted victory. That’s the Barça culture," Szczęsny insisted. 

And fight they did. In the dying moments of the match, Raphinha stepped up with a sensational goal in the 96th minute. The Brazilian chases Ferran Torres' smashed clearance into Benfica's half - and with the hosts backline caught up the pitch - Raphinha cuts in off the right and smashes beyond the goalkeeper Trubin! 

The goal sent Barcelona fans into a frenzy and silencing the home crowd in Lisbon. The winger’s strike capped off an unforgettable night for the Blaugrana, who left Estádio da Luz with all three points despite the drama.