Remarkable Szczesny and brilliant Raphinha award ten-man Barca with a win
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 06.03.25. | 01:34
Pau Cubarsi was sent off in the first half, but the Blaugrana survive the Lisbon cauldron to grab a vital victory (1-0)
Certain games could be labelled as crucial in terms of the entire season, and Barcelona's Champions League triumph in Lisbon against Benfica on Wednesday night definitely has an essential-esque touch to it.
The Catalans are on the verge of the UCL quarter-finals following a 1-0 away victory over the Portuguese giants in the first leg of their round of 16 tie at the Estadio da Luz.
Hansi Flick's side was reduced to ten men after young Pau Cubarsi was sent off after 22 minutes. He had taken down Pavlidis while being the last man of the defence.
After that moment, Araujo came on as Dani Olmo was sacrificed for the greater good, and the Blaugrana's attack suddenly became less potent.
Previously, Benfica's keeper Trubin made a triple save, denying Olmo, Lewandowski and Yamal from close range, but after Cubarsi's red card, the game's momentum shifted entirely.
Unfortunately for the hosts, they were punished around the hour-mark, as Raphinha ran flawlessly with the ball before slotting it low to stun the home crowd, 0-1.
RAPHINHA GOAL YESSSS pic.twitter.com/NWPrashfBf
— MessiMania (@M10Update) March 5, 2025
From that moment on, frustrated Benfica focused entirely on, at least, levelling the score, but Barcelona's keeper Szczesny had a night to remember with eight saves, with the last one coming in the closing stages of the game following a Renato Sanches's effort.
He commited a foul on Beloti in the box, though, which resulted in a penalty. However, it was voided a minute later as the VAR review showed the Italian striker was offside in the build-up.
MOTM PERFORMANCE FROM WOJCIECH SZCZESNY TO LIFT BARCELONA TO A HUGE AWAY WIN DOWN A MAN! 💥
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 5, 2025
From being retired from football in October, to putting together star performances in the Champions League.
Incredible ✨ pic.twitter.com/QNx6Zzx4Ci
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - ROUND OF 16
First leg
Tuesday
Club Brugge - Aston Villa 1-3 (1-1)
/De Cuyper 12 - Bailey 3, Mechele 82 (og), Asensio 88 pen/
Dortmund - Lille 1-1 (1-0)
/Adeyemi 22 - Haraldsson 68/
PSV - Arsenal 1-7 (1-3)
/Lang 43 - Timber 18, Nwaneri 21, Merino 31, Odegaard 47, 73 Trossard 48, Calafiori/
Real Madrid - Atl. Madrid 2-1 (1-1)
/Rodrygo 4, Diaz 55 - Alvarez 32/
Wednesday
Feyenoord - Inter 0-2 (0-1)
/Thuram 38, Martinez 50/
Bayern - Leverkusen 3-0 (1-0)
/Kane 9, 75 pen, Musiala 54/
Benfica - Barcelona 0-1 (0-0)
/Raphinha 61/
PSG - Liverpool 0-1 (0-0)
/Elliott 87/
.jpg)