Szczesny’s Heroics Secure Barcelona’s Narrow Win Over Benfica

LISBOA, Portugal — Barcelona managed to secure a crucial 1-0 victory over Benfica in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 on Wednesday, despite playing with ten men for most of the match. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny stepped up, making critical saves when his team needed him most.

The match at Estadio da Luz turned decisive early when Barcelonas defender Pau Cubarsí received a direct red card for a foul on Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis in the 22nd minute. Szczesny kept the score level with a series of impressive stops, including a critical save from Kerem Akturkoglu’s close-range shot just seconds after the kickoff.

“The work is not done yet,” Szczesny said post-game. “We understood what we needed to do; we couldn’t play open. We played compact, avoiding counterattacks. It was a good match, with character.”

His early intervention set the tone, showing quick reflexes that denied shots from the Benfica forwards. “I really liked my first save,” Szczesny noted. “We played here recently, and we conceded many goals. It was important not to do it again.”

In the 25th minute, he impressively parried a free kick from Orkun Kokcu, further solidifying his status as Barcelona’s key player in the match. His performance didn’t stop there; he recorded a third significant save just before halftime, redirecting a header from Akturkoglu.

Szczesny, who returned from retirement to cover for injured first-choice goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, expressed confidence about his future performance: “My best game is yet to come.” After stepping in for Iñaki Peña, he quickly became head coach Hansi Flick‘s top choice for the position.

<p“Hansi demanded that we defend as a unit, and we managed to do so successfully today,” Szczesny shared, highlighting the teamwork displayed throughout the match.

Flick had to make tactical adjustments after Cubarsí’s red card, replacing playmaker Dani Olmo with defender Ronald Araújo in the 28th minute. The young Cubarsí’s foul came just as Pavlidis was approaching the penalty area, leaving Szczesny as the last line of defense.

With the return leg set for next Tuesday in Barcelona, the Catalan side holds a slim lead but faces the challenge of maintaining their advantage against the resilient Benfica squad, which pressed aggressively for an equalizer.