Barcelona pulled off a stunning 1-0 victory over Benfica in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, despite being reduced to 10 men early in the match. Raphinha’s brilliant second-half strike proved to be the difference, giving the Blaugrana a crucial advantage heading into the return leg at home.
The match began at a frantic pace, with both goalkeepers called into action within the opening minutes. Benfica’s Anatoliy Trubin made a sensational triple save to deny Barcelona an early breakthrough, while Wojciech Szczesny had to react quickly at the other end. However, the game changed drastically in the 22nd minute when Pau Cubarsí was sent off for a last-man challenge on Vangelis Pavlidis, forcing Barcelona to adopt a more defensive approach.
With the numerical advantage, Benfica seized control of possession and pushed forward relentlessly. They held 65% of the ball in the second half and registered 26 shots overall, but Barcelona’s defensive resilience, led by Szczesny’s heroics, kept the Portuguese side at bay. Despite their dominance, Benfica struggled to find a way past a well-organized Barcelona backline.
Against the run of play, Barcelona delivered the game’s decisive moment in the 61st minute. Raphinha intercepted a poor pass from Benfica’s Silva and quickly drove towards the penalty area. The Brazilian unleashed a stunning long-range strike into the bottom right corner, leaving Trubin with no chance and giving the visitors an unlikely lead.
The hosts responded by throwing everything forward in search of an equalizer, forcing Szczesny into multiple key saves. The Barcelona goalkeeper produced seven stops in total, including five from inside the box, earning him the Man of the Match award. His efforts ensured that Barcelona carried their narrow lead into the second leg.
While Benfica controlled possession and had more shots, their inability to capitalize on the extra man proved costly. Manager Bruno Lage will be disappointed with his team’s failure to convert chances, especially considering their previous heartbreak against Barcelona a 5-4 defeat in the league phase after twice leading by multiple goals.
Hansi Flick, on the other hand, will take immense pride in his side’s defensive discipline and ability to seize the moment. Despite being outshot and outpossessed, Barcelona showed resilience and efficiency, traits crucial for success in European competition.
Both teams now shift focus to domestic action before meeting again for the second leg. Benfica will face Nacional in the Primeira Liga, aiming to close the gap on league leaders Sporting Lisbon, while Barcelona take on Osasuna in La Liga before hosting Benfica at the Camp Nou.