Raphinha Shines Again as Barcelona Edge Benfica in Champions League Thriller
Raphinha Shines Again as Barcelona Edge Benfica in Champions League Thriller
Barcelona secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Benfica in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie, with Raphinha once again proving to be the hero. Despite playing with 10 men for most of the match, the Catalan side held firm to take a slim advantage back to the Camp Nou for the second leg.
Match Highlights
- Raphinha’s Decisive Strike: The Brazilian capitalized on a defensive error in the 61st minute, driving forward and slotting the ball into the bottom corner for his 25th goal of the season and ninth in the Champions League campaign.
- Red Card Drama: Teenager Pau Cubarsí was sent off in the 22nd minute after a last-man challenge on Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis, forcing Barcelona to play the majority of the match with 10 men.
- Szczesny’s Heroics: Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny made several crucial saves, including a late stop to deny Renato Sanches, redeeming himself after a shaky performance in the teams’ previous encounter.
- Penalty Overturned: Benfica thought they had a penalty in the 82nd minute when Szczesny brought down Andrea Belotti, but the decision was overturned due to an offside in the build-up.
Key Moments
- Benfica dominated the second half, recording 15 shots with five on target, but failed to break through Barcelona’s resolute defense.
- Raphinha’s goal was Barcelona’s only second-half effort on target, highlighting his clinical efficiency.
- The match ended in a tense finale as Benfica pushed for an equalizer, but Barcelona held on to extend their unbeaten run to 16 games in all competitions.
Looking Ahead
The second leg will take place at the Camp Nou on Tuesday, 11 March (17:45 GMT), with Barcelona aiming to secure their place in the quarter-finals. Benfica, however, will be determined to overturn the deficit and continue their Champions League journey.
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