Barcelona Overcomes Red Card to Edge Benfica in Champions League Thriller

Lisbon, Portugal – Barcelona secured a narrow 1-0 victory against Benfica in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match on March 5, 2025, despite playing over an hour with 10 men.

The decisive moment came in the 61st minute when Raphinha capitalized on a defensive error and scored a deflected goal, giving Barcelona an advantage ahead of the second leg. This victory highlights the resilience of the Catalan side, especially after teenage defender Pau Cubarsí received a straight red card in the 22nd minute for a foul on Vangelis Pavlidis.

Barcelona’s goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny, who came out of retirement earlier this season, was pivotal in the match, making eight crucial saves throughout the evening. His expertise proved invaluable, especially after Barcelona was forced to reshuffle their defense due to Cubarsí’s early exit.

Szczęsny’s performance began spectacularly, denying Pavlidis just 30 seconds into the match with a one-handed save. He continued to thwart Benfica’s advances, which dominated possession and registered 15 attempts on goal, compared to Barcelona’s meager total of two shots on target.

“Szczęsny saved us many times today, he is outstanding,” said Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, reflecting on the keeper’s crucial role. “You have to give a lot of credit for the team’s effort after going a man down so early in the game.”

Despite Benfica’s dominant possession, Barcelona’s defense held firm. Szczęsny was particularly influential during the second half when Benfica applied significant pressure, but could not find a way past the veteran goalkeeper.

Benfica midfielder Fredrik Aursnes expressed his team’s frustration, stating, “It’s a bad result, we had good chances today, especially when they got the red card… Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to score and paid a heavy price for that.”

Barcelona had a warning sign in the 12th minute when Benfica keeper Anatoliy Trubin made a remarkable triple save to deny Robert Lewandowski and keep the scores level. A crucial change in momentum happened after Cubarsí’s sending-off, forcing Barcelona’s coach Hansi Flick to adapt their game plan.

In the wake of the red card, Barcelona shifted to a more defensive stance while looking for counter-attacking opportunities. Raphinha, who had struggled to make an impact in the first half, emerged as a game-changer. He intercepted a wayward pass from Antonio Silva in the Benfica half and struck a low shot that found the net, deflecting off a defender.

“It was a difficult match, but we showed great character,” Raphinha said after the match. “Each player gave their all for the team.”

Barcelona’s success was underscored by their collective effort, with each player contributing to a grueling defensive display. Inigo Martinez and Jules Kounde were particularly noteworthy, stepping up to make critical blocks as the team sought to protect their slender lead.

Following the match, Flick applauded the team’s spirit, saying, “After the 22nd minute, with one player less, it was a great performance tonight. We had a good goalkeeper, he was fantastic for us.”

The return leg in Barcelona is set to take place on March 11, where Barcelona will look to secure their place in the quarterfinals.