Barcelona’s hopes in a strong first leg shown in Lisbon applied for a strong blow after Pau Cubarsi got a straight red card in his first leg with Benfica.
Cabarsi was discharged only twenty minutes after judging that he had denied a chance to score while Benfics’ dangerous man, Vangelis Pavlidis, broke.
At halftime, however, the result was left without naked.
It was far from the beginning, the head of Barcelona Hansi Flick would hope, because the leaders of La Liga are facing a potentially nervous evening inside an angry estao da Luz.
Barcelona down on 10 men! 🟥
Pau Cubarsi was fired for a challenge on Vangelis Pavlidis outside the box
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– Football on TNT Sports (@footballlontnt) March 5, 2025
The previous meeting of two sides in the league phase in January ended 5-4 on Flick’s side after an exciting competition.
Benfica will feel the opportunity to take revenge, at the same time increasing their chances that they are progressing in the last eight before the second leg conflict in the Nou Camp next week.
The Portuguese side is notoriously strong in front of its home fans and are currently on impressively undefeated running in all competitions.
They beat Monaco 4-3 on the aggregate in the playoffs of the playoffs to reach the 16th round.
