- LISBON — Raphinha scored the only goal as FC Barcelona played for 70
minutes with a player less to win 1-0 at Benfica in the first leg of its
Champions League last-16 tie after being under pressure for virtually the
entire 90 minutes.
-
- The game started brightly with Kerem Akturkoglu seeing his
first-minute shot saved by Barca goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, before Nicolas
Otamendi had a shot blocked as Benfica started brightly.
Also read: Dortmund surrender lead as Lille earn draw in Champions League round of 16 first leg
Champions League: Madrid take 2-1 advantage over Atletico, Arsenal defeat record PSV
At the other end, Dani Olmo fired just wide, before Barca
was reduced to 10 men after just 22 minutes when Pau Cubarsi was sent off for
bringing down Vangelis Pavlidis when he was the last defender, reports Xinhua.
-
- Szczesny saved Orkun Kokcu's free kick, while Barca coach
Hansi Flick replaced Olmo with defender Ronald Araujo.
-
- Raphinha had a good chance for Barca, while at the other
end, Szczesny produced a reflex save to frustrate Pavlidis' chance from close
range.
-
- The Barcelona goalkeeper made two more good saves early in
the second half, before Ferran Torres replaced the tiring Lamine Yamal shortly
before Raphinha put Barcelona ahead with a stunning shot into the bottom corner
from well outside the area.
-
- Benfica increased the pressure, but Szczesny was having his
best game for Barcelona since joining last autumn and was virtually unbeatable,
as shown by his flying stop to deny Renato Sanchez in the last minute.
