Barcelona are in pole position to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League after securing a 1-0 victory over Benfica in the first leg of their round of 16 tie at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon.
2024/2025 UEFA Champions League
0-1
Match Report
Hansi Flick’s side were almost 1-0 down inside 18 seconds when Kerem Akturkoglu was played in, but Wojciech Szczesny made a huge save. Soon after, Barcelona should have gone ahead but for a triple save from Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, who denied Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal from close range.
On 22 minutes, the game dynamic took a big turn as Barcelona were reduced to 10 men. Vangelis Pavlidis ran through on goal, and just before reaching the penalty area, he was taken down by Pau Cubarsi. The young defender claimed that he won the ball, but replays showed that he did not. As such, he was sent off by referee Felix Zwayer, with the decision confirmed by VAR.
Benfica could not find a goal in the opening 60 minutes, and they were made to pay for that as Barcelona scored against the run of play. A poor pass from defender Antonio Silva was intercepted by Raphinha, who raced towards goal before firing an unstoppable effort past Trubin and into the far corner, which sparked joyous scenes among Flick and his coaching staff in the dugout.
Benfica started to get even more desperate after conceding, and they thought they had won a penalty when substitute Andrea Belotti was fouled inside the area by Szczesny, but the Italian striker was offside, which was confirmed after a VAR check.
Szczesny made eight saves in total, which the last coming in the closing stages from a fine strike from Renato Sanches. In the end, he was able to hang on to his clean sheet, and it means that Barcelona have a one-goal advantage going into the second leg at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in six days’ time.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
1' Barcelona's mistake nearly let Aktürkoğlu score from a tight angle
2' Dani Olmo's right footed shot from outside the box
9' Cubarsí‘s header from the centre of the box is saved
13' Barcelona kept pressing but Trubin denied them with three straight saves
14' Kjeldrup fired from the cross, but Szczesny denied him with a diving save
22' Red Card! Pau Cubarsí sent off after bringing down Vangelis Pavlidis
25' Kökçü's direct free-kick was saved, and Pavlidis headed the rebound wide
28' Strengthen the defense! Araujo came on as a substitute, replacing Olmo
35' Fireworks were set off in the stands, and the referee briefly halted the game
39' Smoke filled the pitch, hoping it wouldn't obstruct the players' vision
43' Aktürkoğlu's header is denied by Szczęsny, who comes out to block the shot
45' Yellow Card! Leandro Barreiro booked
47' Yellow Card! I. Martinez booked
47' Kökçü strikes first-time, but Szczęsny dives to save the ball
51' Aursnes shoots powerfully, but Szczęsny saves the ball again
56' Ferran Torres subbed in for Yamal
61' GOAL! Raphinha gives 10-man visitors the lead! Benfica 0-1 Barcelona
71' Pavlidis shoots from a tight angle, but Koundé blocks the ball
77' Aktürkoğlu controls and shoots, but Szczęsny gathers the ball
79' Lewandowski and de Jong go off, with Casado and Geraint Martin subbed in
83' Szczęsny fouls Belotti, but the referee signals offside and cancels the penalty
Line-ups
Benfica XI: Otamendi, Fredrik Aursnes, Vangelis Pavlidis, Kerem Aktürkoğlu, Leandro Barreiro, Orkun Kökçü, Anatoliy Trubin, Tomás Araújo, Álvaro Carreras, Andreas Schjelderup, António Silva
Subs: Belotti, R.Sanches, Arthur Cabral, Adrian Bajrami, Samuel Dahl, Samuel Soares, Hugo Félix, Nuno Félix, Diogo Prioste, Gianluca Prestianni, João Rego, Leandro Santos
Barcelona XI: Szczesny, Lewandowski, I. Martinez, Olmo, De Jong, Raphinha, Kounde, Pedri, Balde, Yamal, Cubarsi
Subs: Pena, Ferran Torres, Araujo, Eric Garcia, Fati, Casado, Pau Víctor, Pablo Torre, Fermín López, Gerard Martín, Héctor Fort, Diego Kochen