Raphinha Stunner and Szczesny Heroics Secure Gutsy Barcelona Win Over Benfica
Barcelona pulled off a courageous 1-0 victory against Benfica in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, despite playing with 10 men for most of the match. It was a night of resilience, drama, and standout performances, as Raphinha's stunning strike and Wojciech Szczesny's goalkeeping heroics kept the Blaugrana in control.
Right from the kickoff, Benfica showed their intent, forcing Szczesny into a crucial save within the first 30 seconds. The Polish keeper was called into action again moments later, as Robert Lewandowski saw his effort denied by a brilliant double save from Anatoliy Trubin. The early exchanges were intense, setting the tone for a gripping contest.
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However, Barcelona faced a major setback in the 20th minute. Pau CubarsÃ, the young defender, was sent off after bringing down Vangelis Pavlidis on the edge of the box. With VAR confirming the decision, Barca was left with 10 men, making an already challenging away fixture even tougher.
Benfica tried to capitalize on their numerical advantage, constantly testing Szczesny, but the Barca shot-stopper stood tall. Then, against the run of play, Barcelona found their moment of brilliance. Just past the hour mark, Raphinha intercepted a loose ball in midfield, surged forward, and unleashed a powerful strike from distance. A slight deflection helped the ball nestle into the bottom corner, giving Barca a crucial lead.
The tension continued as Benfica pushed for an equalizer. There was a moment of controversy late in the game when Szczesny appeared to foul Andrea Belotti in the box, but the referee ruled the Italian forward was offside in the buildup. The drama wasn’t over yet, as Szczesny produced a world-class save in the dying moments to deny Renato Sanches and preserve Barca’s lead.
With this hard-fought victory, Barcelona takes a vital advantage back to Camp Nou for the second leg. It was a statement win, showing their grit, determination, and the individual brilliance of key players. Can they finish the job and advance further in the Champions League? The next chapter awaits.
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