Barcelona pulled off a stunning Champions League victory over Benfica, defying the odds with ten men and securing a crucial first-leg advantage. With Raphinha’s second-half strike and Wojciech Szczesny’s masterclass in goal, the Catalan giants showcased resilience, tactical discipline, and sheer determination in Lisbon.
Barcelona’s Early Setback: Pau Cubarsí’s Red Card
The game took a dramatic turn in the 22nd minute when Barcelona’s teenage defender Pau Cubarsí received a straight red card for a last-man challenge on Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis. Playing with ten men for over an hour in an intense Champions League knockout tie could have been disastrous, but Barcelona responded with courage and organization.
Head coach Xavi Hernández was forced into an early tactical reshuffle, bringing on Ronald Araújo to solidify the defense. Despite Benfica’s numerical advantage, they struggled to capitalize, largely due to the brilliance of one man—Wojciech Szczesny.
Szczesny’s Goalkeeping Brilliance Saves Barcelona
Barca’s decision to bring in Wojciech Szczesny as an emergency signing following Marc-André ter Stegen’s knee injury has proven to be a masterstroke. The 34-year-old Polish veteran delivered a world-class performance, making eight crucial saves and keeping Benfica’s attackers at bay.
His night started with a lightning-fast reaction save within the opening 30 seconds to deny Kerem Akturkoglu inside the box. He followed that up with a reflex stop from Fredrik Aursnes early in the second half and a stunning fingertip save to push away Renato Sanches’ rocket in stoppage time.
Szczesny’s heroics frustrated Benfica, whose 15 shots and 60% possession counted for nothing. Every time they thought they had the breakthrough, the Barcelona keeper was there to deny them.
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Raphinha’s Moment of Magic Secures the Win
Barca had struggled to create clear-cut chances, but when an opportunity arose, Raphinha made no mistake. In the 61st minute, the Brazilian winger pounced on a sloppy defensive pass inside the Benfica box. His first-time shot took a slight deflection but found its way past Anatolii Trubin and into the bottom corner.
It was Barcelona’s only shot on target in the second half, but it was all they needed. The goal sent the traveling fans into raptures and provided a crucial lifeline ahead of the second leg at the Camp Nou.
Benfica’s Missed Chances Prove Costly
For all their possession and attacking intent, Benfica lacked the clinical edge needed to break through Barca’s stubborn defense. João Neves, Vangelis Pavlidis, and Kerem Akturkoglu all had golden opportunities, but none could find the finishing touch.
One of the biggest moments came just before halftime when Aursnes found himself unmarked in the six-yard box, only for Szczesny to make a breathtaking close-range save. As the final whistle blew, Benfica players were left shaking their heads in disbelief, knowing they had squandered a prime opportunity to take control of the tie.
Match Stats: Benfica vs Barcelona
- Possession: Benfica 60% – 40% Barcelona
- Shots: Benfica 15 – 5 Barcelona
- Shots on Target: Benfica 5 – 2 Barcelona
- Corners: Benfica 8 – 3 Barcelona
- Saves (Szczesny): 8 (Match-Winner)
Barcelona’s Defensive Masterclass and Tactical Discipline
Despite playing with ten men for most of the match, Barcelona defended with discipline, patience, and tactical intelligence. Frenkie de Jong and Pedri dropped deeper to help shield the backline, while Jules Koundé and Iñigo Martínez put in commanding defensive performances.
Benfica kept knocking on the door, but Barca’s compact defensive shape and relentless pressing forced them into long-range efforts. The Spanish giants absorbed pressure and struck when the opportunity arose—a hallmark of champions.
What This Means for the Second Leg
With the 1-0 victory, Barca now return to the Camp Nou with a precious advantage. However, the tie is far from over. Benfica have shown they can dominate possession and create chances, but their lack of finishing touch could haunt them if they don’t find solutions in the return leg.
Barca will have Cubarsí suspended for the second leg, which means Xavi will have to reshuffle his defense again. Meanwhile, Benfica must decide whether to be aggressive from the start or remain patient and avoid being caught on the counter.
Can Barcelona complete the job at home, or will Benfica mount a comeback? The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to this Champions League battle.
A Statement Victory for Barcelona
Against the odds, Barcelona proved why they remain a European powerhouse. Despite playing with ten men for most of the match, they showed resilience, discipline, and efficiency to grind out a massive away win.
With Szczesny’s heroics, Raphinha’s decisive strike, and a determined defensive display, Barcelona now have one foot in the quarter-finals. Benfica, on the other hand, will be left wondering how they failed to capitalize on their dominance.
The return leg at the Camp Nou promises to be another battle, but Barcelona have shown they can fight through adversity and still emerge victorious. Will Benfica find redemption, or will Barcelona march forward in their quest for Champions League glory? We’ll find out soon.
