By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Ten-man Barcelona pulled off a stunning 1-0 victory over Benfica in the first leg of their Champions League knockout stage clash in Portugal on Wednesday night.
Despite being a man down for over an hour, Barcelona showcased defensive resilience and clinical finishing to secure a crucial away win.
The decisive moment came in the 61st minute when Raphinha capitalised on a loose ball just outside the box and fired a precise shot into the bottom right corner, beating Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin.
The goal proved to be the difference in a tense encounter that saw Benfica dominate possession but fail to break down Barcelona’s well-organised defence.
Barcelona’s resolve was tested early in the match when young defender Pau Cubarsí was shown a straight red card in the 22nd minute for a reckless challenge, forcing manager Hansi Flick to reshuffle his tactics.
Ronald Araújo was brought in to shore up the defence, and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny produced a series of outstanding saves to keep Benfica at bay.
Benfica launched a relentless assault in the closing stages, with Renato Sanches, Arthur Cabral, and Joao Rego all coming close to equalising. A VAR review in the 83rd minute denied the Portuguese side a penalty, adding to their frustration as they struggled to break through.
Despite being outnumbered and under heavy pressure, Barcelona’s defensive unit stood firm. Szczęsny’s heroics in goal, coupled with crucial interventions from Inigo Martínez and Ronald Araújo, ensured the visitors held on to their slender lead.
The result gives Barcelona a crucial advantage heading into the second leg at Camp Nou, where they will look to finish the job and secure a place in the quarter-finals.
