Barcelona wrestle to slim win regardless of teenage defender Pau Cubarsi being despatched off halfway by means of first half.
Raphinha scored the one purpose of the sport to provide Barcelona a 1-0 Champions League last-16 first leg win at Benfica, regardless of the Catalan giants taking part in most the sport with 10 males.
Eighteen-year-old defender Pau Cubarsi was despatched off halfway by means of the primary half of the tight conflict in Lisbon on Wednesday with the rating goalless.
Raphinha drilled residence after 61 minutes to provide five-time winners Barcelona a slim benefit on Bruno Lage’s aspect forward of the second leg subsequent Tuesday.
Barcelona haven’t gained the competitors since 2015 however are anticipated to go deep this season, after a draw which many think about beneficial.
Hansi Flick insisted earlier than the sport there was no such thing as an “easy” Champions League tie and the coach was confirmed proper on a tense night within the Portuguese capital.
“I’m very proud,” the German coach mentioned after his crew emerged with a victory.
Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny endured two high-profile errors towards Benfica within the league stage in January however made amends with a string of saves as Barca have been pinned again within the last half hour.
Szczesny made a sensible save to disclaim Benfica’s Kerem Akturkoglu after only a few seconds, and the opening phases have been performed in a method that indicated each side have been choosing up the place they left off in Barcelona’s wild 5-4 win in Lisbon.
“The final time I don’t suppose [Szczesny] left right here very glad,” mentioned Barca midfielder Pedri.
“He saved so much [tonight], one at the beginning the place in the event that they rating you begin the sport on a foul footing – between the sticks he’s an enormous presence and it’s nice to have him.”
Dani Olmo fired narrowly large on the different finish as Barca threatened, earlier than Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin produced a surprising triple save to maintain the rating degree.
The Ukrainian first parried Dani Olmo’s prodded effort, then made an excellent response cease to thwart Robert Lewandowski changing from point-blank vary and mopped up Lamine Yamal’s try from the rebound.
Barcelona have been dealt a blow when 18-year-old centre-back Cubarsi was despatched off after 22 minutes.
The Spaniard scythed down Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis, who scored a hat-trick within the group match, as he ran by means of on purpose.
Szczesny saved Orkun Kokcu’s drive from the free-kick, with Flick sacrificing Olmo for defender Ronald Araujo to regular the ship.
The Polish goalkeeper, introduced out of retirement by Barcelona after Marc-Andre ter Stegen suffered a extreme knee harm in September, additionally made a positive response save to maintain out Akturkoglu’s header earlier than the break.
Regardless of their numerical drawback, Flick’s Barca gave nearly as good as they acquired on the Estadio da Luz.
Szczesny made one other good intervention to cease Pavlidis and hold Benfica at bay, earlier than Raphinha broke the impasse.
On the precise flank after Flick changed Yamal early within the second half with Ferran Torres, Raphinha stole in to win the ball again excessive up and wallop a low, deflected effort residence from distance.
It was his ninth purpose in 9 Champions League video games, with the ahead within the type of his profession.
Barcelona defended frantically within the last phases as Benfica sought to degree.
The hosts thought that they had gained a penalty when Szczesny felled Andrea Belotti, however there was an offside within the build-up and Barcelona survived with their lead intact.
“Immediately we knew how you can defend,” added Pedri. “After the crimson we knew precisely what to do, keep collectively on the again, defend as a block and reap the benefits of our possibilities with the gamers we have now up entrance.”
Elsewhere within the Champions League final 16, Bayern Munich defeated Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen 3-0, and whereas Liverpool have been second finest all evening, Harvey Elliott’s late purpose secured them a 1-0 win at Paris Saint-Germain.
Within the early recreation on Wednesday, Lautaro Martinez scored to change into Inter Milan’s all-time main scorer within the Champions League in a 2-0 win for the Italian giants towards Feyenoord.
