And that’s exactly why we can’t get enough of the Champions League. What a show.

By beating Benfica, Barcelona are all but guaranteed a place in the last 16, with more exciting football likely to come with it.

Did they deserve to win this game? Honestly, no. Benfica were the better team for most of the match, and Bruno Lage came up with a game plan that had the Blaugrana rattled.

But this is a reminder that European football is often chaotic, and anything can happen if you keep battling until the end.

At around the 75th minute mark, I was so ready to go off on this team because of the way they showed up. Mentally not switched on, getting out worked by a Benfica team that was bringing the intensity and physicality. And not like Getafe, but in a way that showed they wanted the win more than their opponent.

Sometimes all it takes is an unlikely shock on the field to reverse your fortunes. The doink off Raphinha’s head and into the goal was just the lifeline that Barca needed to get their adrenaline pumping, and believing that a comeback was possible.

Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha have not been at their best the last two games. In fact, in the run of play, they’ve been wasteful, and their lack of energy and commitment to the press put their team in a very vulnerable position in Lisbon. But in the end, all three of them made important contributions in their team’s late victory.

Lewandowski is hitting his penalties. That’s a major plus, because before this season he looked like he was losing his mojo in this area.

Lamine Yamal is, perhaps, being too casual lately, but he’s still finding ways to create danger, and was critical late in the match at putting Benfica on their backheels.

Raphinha’s big moment to seal the victory was just what he needed to get his confidence flowing again. And big ups to Ferran Torres too for the incredible pass to spring the attack.

But all three, along with Gavi in this one, need to also take responsibility for not doing more to protect Barcelona’s high line. The second goal that Benfica scored should be watched, and Hansi Flick should make sure his team understands that they can’t take risks playing so high up the field if the forwards aren’t committed to closing down their opponents, preventing easy balls through and over.

This game also gives you food for thought about a player like Eric Garcia. Maybe Flick has been underutilizing him all along. In the defensive midfield, he adds strength to defend against counters, but also incredible distribution to break back lines. There were so many moments in this game when you were begging Marc Casado to make the penetrating pass.

Point is, there is a lot for the manager to think about. Barcelona are truly capable of winning the Champions League when they’re at their best. But they will need to channel their inner mentality monsters in order to make the deep run.

Getting a direct pass to the round of 16 will help.

This is a moment to celebrate. Winning six Champions League games in a row, no matter how you get them, is an incredible achievement.

But the Blaugrana can’t be complacent. You don’t win silverware without earning it with a fighting spirit on the field. In that respect, we saw the best and the worst of Barca in the Benfica remontada.

No taking any games for granted. Barcelona have a special opportunity in front of them that doesn’t come around often. It’s there for the taking. Question is, how badly do they want it?

On Tuesday night, we got a glimpse of what they’re made of.