Barcelona battle to slim win regardless of teenage defender Pau Cubarsi being despatched off halfway by means of first half.
Raphinha scored the one aim of the sport to offer Barcelona a 1-0 Champions League last-16 first-leg win at Benfica, regardless of the Catalan giants enjoying 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 dwelling after 61 minutes to offer five-time winners Barcelona a slim benefit on Bruno Lage’s aspect forward of the second leg subsequent Tuesday.
Barcelona haven’t received the competitors since 2015 however are anticipated to go deep this season, after a draw which many take into account 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 staff emerged with a victory.
Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny endured two high-profile errors in opposition to Benfica within the league stage in January however made amends with a string of saves as Barca had been pinned again within the remaining half-hour.
Szczesny made a wise save to disclaim Benfica’s Kerem Akturkoglu after only a few seconds, and the opening levels had been performed in a method that indicated either side had been selecting 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 comfortable,” mentioned Barca midfielder Pedri.
“He saved lots [tonight], one at first the place in the event that they rating you begin the sport on a nasty footing – between the sticks he’s a giant presence and it’s nice to have him.”
Dani Olmo fired narrowly extensive on the different finish as Barca threatened earlier than Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin produced a shocking triple save to maintain the rating degree.
The Ukrainian first parried Dani Olmo’s prodded effort, then made a superb response cease to thwart Robert Lewandowski changing from point-blank vary and mopped up Lamine Yamal’s try from the rebound.
Barcelona had 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 aim.
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 high quality response save to maintain out Akturkoglu’s header earlier than the break.
Regardless of their numerical drawback, Flick’s Barca gave pretty much as good as they received on the Estadio da Luz.
Szczesny made one other good intervention to cease Pavlidis and maintain Benfica at bay earlier than Raphinha broke the impasse.
On the proper 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 dwelling from distance.
It was his ninth aim in 9 Champions League video games, with the ahead within the type of his profession.
Barcelona defended frantically within the remaining levels as Benfica sought to degree.
The hosts thought that they had received a penalty when Szczesny felled Andrea Belotti, however there was an offside within the build-up and Barcelona survived with their lead intact.
“Right now we knew tips on how to defend,” added Pedri. “After the crimson, we knew precisely what to do, keep collectively on the again, defend as a block and benefit from 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 had been second greatest all evening, Harvey Elliott’s late aim secured them a 1-0 win at Paris Saint-Germain.
Within the early recreation on Wednesday, Lautaro Martinez scored to turn out to be Inter Milan’s all-time main scorer within the Champions League in a 2-0 win for the Italian giants in opposition to Feyenoord.
