In a significant stride towards the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, FC Barcelona triumphed over Portuguese hosts Benfica with a narrow 1-0 victory, despite playing with ten men for a sizable portion of the match. The encounter took place at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon on Wednesday, as Barcelona’s Brazilian winger Raphinha scored the decisive goal in the 61st minute.
The contest turned precarious for the Catalan side early on when defender Pau Karpas was sent off in the 22nd minute after a foul on Benfica’s striker, Evangelos Pavlidis, which put Barcelona at a numerical disadvantage. Subsequently, coach Hans Flick opted to reinforce the defense by substituting forward Dani Olmo for Uruguayan defender Ronald Araújo in a calculation to fortify his backline.
The match began in frenetic fashion, with both teams creating early opportunities. Turkish winger Kerim Aktürkoğlu almost put Benfica ahead right from the opening moments, unleashing a powerful shot from inside the box that Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny strained to deflect for a corner. Soon after, Olmo responded with a fierce attempt from distance that narrowly missed the left post.
Barcelona’s keeper, Szczęsny, displayed skill and composure, denying numerous threats as he thwarted three close-range attempts from a cleverly executed low cross by Raphinha. Each strike was met with resilience as Szczęsny saved efforts from Olmo and Robert Lewandowski, preventing an early breakthrough.
Benfica pressed on and had their chances to exploit the numerical advantage, notably when Pavlidis seized a ball behind Barcelona’s defense. He surged into the box but saw his shot sail harmlessly over the crossbar. Meanwhile, a free-kick opportunity for Benfica, taken by Orkun Kökçü, tested Szczęsny, who once again showcased his prowess by pushing the ball away for relief.
The match saw Szczęsny establishing himself as a standout figure between the posts for Barcelona, as he continued to repel Benfica’s advances. He made a crucial save against a header from Aktürkoğlu just before the halftime whistle, ensuring that Barcelona went into the break level despite being a man down.
After the interval, Benfica continued to press, with Norwegian midfielder Frederik Orsnes testing Szczęsny with a powerful effort. Yet, Barcelona’s resilience and tactical adjustment were evident, as they managed to create a turning point that would lead to the only goal of the match. Raphinha capitalized on a misplaced pass from Benfica defender António Silva, racing downfield before sending a powerful shot to the left of Benfica goalkeeper Anatoli Trubin, who was unable to intervene. This goal marked Raphinha’s ninth in just nine Champions League appearances this season, highlighting his increasing impact in high-stakes matches.
Following the goal, Benfica sought an immediate response to level the score. Orsnes launched another attempt that Szczęsny deftly saved, and Aktürkoğlu, finding space in the box, saw his effort once more thwarted by the Polish goalkeeper’s quick reflexes.
In terms of historical context, this victory reinforced Barcelona’s dominance in encounters against Benfica, marking their fifth win against the Portuguese side in eleven matches across various competitions. Barcelona had previously triumphed over Benfica in a high-scoring group stage matchup, ending 5-4, and the club now heads into the second leg of the knockout stage with a slight edge.
The return leg is scheduled for next Tuesday at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Barcelona, where the Catalans will be aiming to secure their place in the quarter-finals while maintaining their impressive run of 16 matches unbeaten throughout 2023. This match not only affirmed Barcelona’s strategic approach but also reinforced the resilience of the team amidst challenging circumstances, which will undoubtedly heighten anticipation for the upcoming fixture.
