Benfica forward Vangelis Pavlidis has scored the third-fastest hat trick at the start of a Champions League game on Tuesday, against Barcelona.

Vangelis Pavlidis stood tall as a chief protagonist in Benfica's epic UEFA Champions League clash with Barcelona, scoring three times in their dramatic 4-5 away loss to the Catalonian outfit.

It’s customary for the Champions League to overdeliver on drama but rarely quite like Tuesday night’s game between Barcelona and Benfica, which featured nine goals, a sensational comeback, and some of the most calamitous defending the competition has seen so far.

Raphinha scored a late and controversial winner as Barcelona came from behind to win a remarkable game 5-4 against Benfica and qualify for the knockout stage of the Champions League. The last-minute goal was allowed to stand despite Benfica claiming they should have had a penalty moments before as Barca took all three points.

Barcelona came back from two goals down with 15 minutes to go to defeat Benfica 5-4 and secure their place in the Champions League round of 16.

Raphinha scored deep into stoppage time to hand Barcelona a dramatic 5-4 comeback win at Benfica and a place in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday after a hat-trick from Vangelis Pavlidis gave the hosts a two-goal halftime lead.