Barcelona secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Benfica in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie at the Estádio da Luz.
Despite being reduced to ten men early in the contest, the Catalan giants showcased defensive solidity and clinical finishing, setting the stage for a riveting second leg.
The encounter began with both teams exhibiting attacking intent, but the game’s complexion changed dramatically in the 22nd minute.
Barcelona’s teenage defender, Pau Cubarsí, was shown a straight red card for a last-man foul on Vangelis Pavlidis, leaving the visitors with a numerical disadvantage for the majority of the match.
In response to the dismissal, Barcelona’s head coach, Hansi Flick, made tactical adjustments to reinforce the defense. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny emerged as a pivotal figure, producing a series of outstanding saves to deny Benfica’s advances and maintain the deadlock.
The decisive moment arrived in the 61st minute when Raphinha capitalized on a defensive lapse by Benfica. Intercepting a misplaced pass, the Brazilian winger unleashed a low strike that deflected off a defender before nestling inside the left post, giving Barcelona a crucial away goal.
Benfica intensified their efforts in search of an equalizer, but Szczesny’s heroics between the posts ensured that Barcelona preserved their slender lead. The Polish goalkeeper’s performance was instrumental in securing the clean sheet and the victory.
This result places Barcelona in a favorable position ahead of the return leg at Montjuïc. However, they will have to contend with the absence of Cubarsí due to suspension and Álvaro Carreras, who will miss the match because of accumulated yellow cards.
