Discover how Raphinha and Szczęsny led Barcelona to a crucial 1-0 victory in the UEFA Champions Trophy first leg. Explore match highlights and player performances here.
Introduction:
Ten-man Barcelona secured a crucial first-leg advantage in their UEFA Champions League knockout tie, defeating Benfica 1-0 in Lisbon. Despite being reduced to ten men after Pau Cubarsí’s red card, the Catalan giants showcased resilience in defense, with goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny producing a masterclass between the posts.
Benfica, who dominated possession and created several goal-scoring opportunities, were frustrated by their lack of finishing and the sheer brilliance of Barcelona’s shot-stopper. Raphinha’s long-range strike, which deflected off Nicolás Otamendi, sealed the victory against the run of play. See also: Rodrygo Shines as Madrid Edge Atlético 2-1
Szczęsny Denies Benfica’s Early Onslaught
Right from the start, Benfica looked dangerous on the attack, forcing an early save from Szczęsny. Kerem Aktürkoğlu, the hosts’ most dangerous player, found himself in a prime position inside the box, but the Polish keeper parried his powerful effort away.
See also: Yamal’s Brilliance and Raphinha’s Double Send Barcelona to Last 16
A few moments later, Dani Olmo went close for Barcelona, collecting a pass from Raphinha before sending a curling effort just wide of the post.
The Portuguese side continued to press, with Schjelderup and Pavlidis combining well to carve out another opportunity. Aktürkoğlu’s strike towards the far corner seemed destined for the net, but Szczęsny dived low to his right to make another stunning stop.
Trubin Responds with Double Save Against Lewandowski
Benfica wasn’t the only one relying on their goalkeeper’s brilliance. Anatoliy Trubin produced an outstanding double save, denying Robert Lewandowski from close range before quickly reacting to smother a rebound attempt from Lamine Yamal. Despite Barcelona’s threat on the counter, Benfica enjoyed the majority of possession, with their midfield dominance making life difficult for the visitors.
Cubarsí’s Red Card Shifts Momentum
Barcelona’s control took a hit when Cubarsí received a straight red card. The dismissal left Xavi’s men with an uphill battle, forcing them to drop deeper and defend in numbers.
Benfica attempted to capitalize on their numerical advantage, and Aktürkoğlu came close once again with a header at the far post, but Szczęsny was alert to the danger and made yet another superb save. See also: Harry Kane’s Brace Leads Bayern to 3-0 Win
Benfica Waste Their Advantage
Despite dominating possession, Benfica struggled to break down Barcelona’s disciplined defensive setup. The only clear-cut opportunity after the red card was Aktürkoğlu’s header, highlighting the hosts’ lack of creativity in the final third. At halftime, Barcelona had survived the storm, but Benfica were left wondering how they hadn’t found the net.
Second-Half Heroics: Raphinha’s Goal Changes Everything
Benfica started the second half with renewed energy, making tactical adjustments that gave them even more control. They nearly found the breakthrough when Aursnes fired a shot at goal, only for Szczęsny to react quickly and deny Pavlidis from scoring the rebound. As the home crowd roared for a goal, Barcelona struck against the run of play.
Raphinha’s Stunning Goal Against the Run of Play
In the 67th minute, Raphinha picked off a poor pass from Benfica, took a couple of touches, and unleashed a powerful low drive from outside the box. The shot took a slight deflection off Otamendi, leaving Trubin helpless as the ball spun into the far corner. The goal was a huge blow for Benfica, who had been dominating the game but failed to capitalize on their advantage.
Benfica Struggles to Respond
Benfica threw everything forward in search of an equalizer, but their best efforts were denied by Szczęsny. Substitute Renato Sanches came closest, unleashing a powerful half-volley from outside the box, only for the Polish keeper to pull off a stunning acrobatic save.
Aktürkoğlu had another opportunity in the dying minutes, but he failed to generate enough power to trouble Szczęsny.
Defensive Resilience and Goalkeeping Brilliance
Despite being down to ten men, Barcelona’s defensive discipline and Szczęsny’s heroics ensured they kept a clean sheet and took a crucial 1-0 lead into the second leg.
Benfica’s inability to convert their dominance into goals proved costly. Even with an extra man for over 60 minutes, they failed to break through and will now face a tough task in the return leg at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
Raphinha’s moment of magic gave Barcelona an unlikely lead.
Szczęsny’s heroic performance kept Benfica at bay, denying multiple goal-scoring opportunities.
Despite being under pressure for large spells, Barcelona executed their defensive strategy perfectly to take a hard-fought victory back to Spain.
Looking Ahead: Can Benfica Turn It Around?
Benfica must now travel to Barcelona knowing they need to score at least once to stay in the tie. However, Barcelona will take confidence from their resilience in Lisbon, and with Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Yamal in form, they will fancy their chances of finishing the job at home.
With Benfica’s Champions League hopes hanging in the balance, the second leg promises to be a thrilling encounter.