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Raphinha claimed a stunning 1-0 win in the last sixteen first leg of the Champions League for Barcelona against Benfica on Wednesday night, even when the Catalan giants had a one man deficit for most of the match. The teenage central defender Pau Cubarsi was sent off midway through the first half in a tightly contested matchup in Lisbon when the score was still 0-0. Raphinha scored a brilliant goal in the 61st minute, giving the five time winners a slim advantage going into the second round of the knockout stages. Barcelona haven’t won this tournament since 2015 but have recently been drawing good results and are expected to progress deep into the tournament. Hansi Flick was certain it was an easy matchup and the former world champion was proven right on a tense evening spent in the capital of Portugal.
“I told the team chapeau, I am very proud of this team,” he said after his team emerged victorious.
“This was not easy after the 22nd minute which put us a man down, so I consider this a big win.”
Barca were forced to sit back for the last half hour of the game, but Wojciech Szczesny was electric in goal after his two blunders in the group stage. He saved every shot that came his way and without him Barcelona would’ve scored three goals.
Szczesny smartly denied a shot from Benfica’s Kerem Akturkoglu just a few seconds into the match, and from the looks of it, it seemed like both teams were keen on repeating the action-packed 5-4 performance put on by Barcelona in their previous match with Benfica.
“The last time I don't think (Szczesny) left here very happy,” said Barca midfielder Pedri.
“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."
As Barca started to build pressure, Dani Olmo almost scored but missed the goal. Fortunately for Barca, Benfica’s goalkeeper, Anatoliy Trubin also preserved the tie with an astonishing triple save.
First, the Ukrainian blocked the goal with his fists against the effort of Dani Olmo before Robert Lewandowski attempted to score from right in front of the goal, after which he easily stopped Yamal’s proposed rebound.
Benfica responded with a goal of their own when winger Cubarsi managed to get on the end of a seeing pass and unleashed a vicious cavalry charge beyond the center circle.
Flick made the second substitution early by replacing Yamal with Ferran Torres, and from the right flank, Raphinha managed to retrieve the low, deflected strike, and score a goal from long-range.
With this goal, he now has nine in nine Champions League matches this season, and he is playing at his best.
Said Raphinha as he reflected upon scoring, “We knew we had to remain alert, having in mind it was possible to score and the single opportunity we had; we did bury it."
With Sekznes on show, Barcelona began to defend resignedly at the late stages as Benfica aimed at equalizing.
Barcelona were saved by their lead, which was unchanged, when Segznes brought down Belotti, and the capture got the card for the penalty; however, the build-up had an off-side.
Today we knew how to defend,” added Pedri. “After the red we knew exactly what to do, stay together at the back, defend as a block and take advantage of our chances with the players we have up front.”—Pedri
Pavlidis said the Catalans were lucky to escape. “Barcelona were lucky and scored the goal, we didn’t and it’s a big disappointment," remarked the Greek striker.
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