Champions League: Barcelona claims emphatic win over Benfica

Raphinha's brilliant strike secured Barcelona a 1-0 win over Benfica in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash on Wednesday, despite the Catalan giants playing most of the match with only 10 men. The game in Lisbon took an early twist when teenage defender Pau Cubarsi was shown a red card midway through the first half, leaving Barcelona to battle with a numerical disadvantage. However, despite the setback, Barcelona held firm and managed to take the lead in the 61st minute. Raphinha’s well-placed shot found the back of the net, providing Barcelona with a narrow but crucial advantage heading into the second leg, which will be played next Tuesday.

This victory gives the five-time Champions League winners a slight edge over Bruno Lage's Benfica, but the tie is far from decided. Barcelona have not lifted the prestigious trophy since their triumph in 2015, but they are widely regarded as strong contenders this season. Ahead of the match, Hansi Flick, the former Bayern Munich coach, had emphasized that no tie in the Champions League can ever be deemed "easy," and his words proved true as the match turned out to be a tense and hard-fought affair in the Portuguese capital.

Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny redeemed himself after two high-profile errors against Benfica in the group stage in January, producing a series of key saves during Barcelona's 1-0 win in the Champions League last-16 first leg. As Barcelona were pushed back in the final half hour, Szczesny stood tall, denying Benfica’s Kerem Akturkoglu with a smart save early in the second half.

The early stages of the match mirrored the thrilling 5-4 encounter between the two teams in Lisbon earlier in the season, with both sides pressing hard for an advantage. Despite being a man down due to Pau Cubarsi's red card, Barcelona managed to hold their ground, and Szczesny's vital contributions ensured they maintained their slender lead. His performance was a stark contrast to his earlier mistakes, showing resilience and playing a crucial role in the team's important win.

"The last time I don't think (Szczesny) left here very happy. He saved a lot (tonight), one at the start where if they score you start the game on a bad footing -- between the sticks he's a big presence and it's great to have him," said Barca midfielder Pedri.

Dani Olmo came close for Barcelona, firing narrowly wide, but Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin stole the spotlight with a stunning triple save. He first denied Olmo’s attempt, then produced a brilliant stop to thwart Robert Lewandowski from close range, before blocking Lamine Yamal’s rebound. Barcelona faced a setback when 18-year-old centre-back Pau Cubarsi was sent off after a foul on Benfica's Vangelis Pavlidis, who had scored a hat-trick in the group stage.

From the resulting free-kick, Szczesny saved Orkun Kokcu’s drive. Coach Hansi Flick then made a tactical change, bringing on defender Ronald Araujo for Olmo to stabilize the defense. Szczesny was key, making crucial saves, including a reaction stop on Kerem Akturkoglu’s header. Early in the second half, Raphinha put Barcelona ahead with a low, deflected shot after winning the ball high up the field. His goal, his ninth in nine Champions League games, sealed the win for Barcelona.