Raphinha scored a beautiful long -range blow because Barcelona prevailed Benfica to gain a slim first leg advantage despite playing most of the game with 10 men.
The Brazilian Playmaker hit the only goal of the competition an hour after Pau cbarsi received a straight red card for just 20 minutes in the match when he lowered Vangelis Pavlidis.
Hansi Flick’s side firmly defended herself for 70 minutes, over time he inevitably attacked an attack in Lisbon to end Benfics’ eight match of undefeated running in all competitions.
For the hosts, you will feel like a missed opportunity to get an advantage in a tie. For Flick and Co. They will feel like they have given themselves a great opportunity to progress until the last eight.
🔥🔥🔥 Full time! 🔥🔥🔥#Benficarba @Championsleague pic.twitter.com/rapapi6dcj
– FC Barcelona (@fcbarcelona) March 5, 2025
As the action took place
The great estadio that Luz often proved to be an incredible appearance for any visiting team, especially when Benfica is to their extent.
Barcelona knew that everything was too good, just overcome in an exciting 5-4 victory when two sides met in the league phase back in January.
And it looked like fans inside the light stadium could be for another angry evening, because, within 30 seconds, the Barcelona wojciech Scrzczesny guard was called to prevent Kerem Akturkogl.
It was a glittering signal of the host intent, but La Liga looked quickly to calm the competition with her usual transient exchanges.
Then there was a Red Benfica shooter, Anatoliy Trubin, to show his value. The Ukrainian pulled a series of wonderful savings after the ball found the way to Robert Lewandowski, but visitors failed to force the ball home.
Barcelona’s hopes into a strong first leg then shared a strong blow when, after only 20 minutes, the Cabarsi was shown a straight red card when they ruled that he had denied the chance to score as Pavlidis broke.
Barcelona down on 10 men! 🟥
Pau Cubarsi was fired for a challenge on Vangelis Pavlidis outside the box
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It was far from how Flick had imagined the evening playing. Benfica, meanwhile, felt the opportunity. SCZCZESNY saved himself well from Pavlidis before the Barcelona chief decided to strengthen his defense by replacing Danie Olma with Ronald Araui.
With trial hosts, visitors would surely take a stall without a goal. But shortly after the vacation, Barcelona were those who broke the deadlock.
Raphinha, who was in a scinulation form for the Catalan club, scored his 25th goal of the season and 43. The goal contribution in 40 games of this mandate-premature shot.
Barcelona breaks down 🔓
It is Déjà vu for Benfica while Raphinha is again haunted by Estadio de Luz with a long shot after Silva’s bad passage
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Hoping to a Benfica mistake, the Brazilian ran into the return line of Benfica before knocking down a low leg from the edge of the box into the lower corner.
Cue Wild Prices in a guest excavation, while visitors suddenly had something they were holding on to.
But it was still a long way. Shortly afterwards, the hosts then looked like they might have had a punishment when Andrea Belotti crossed Scrzcesny, but the attacker was already in the offside.
By this point, it was one -way traffic because Benfica desperately went in search of the goal. Joao Rego tried his head. Arthur Cabral caused chaos in the Barcelona penalty area.
But their efforts ultimately proved to be caused by the visitors as the visitors stayed to return to Spotify Camp Nou next week.
