Benfica 0-1 Barcelona: Raphinha stunner gives ten-man visitors first-leg advantage

Raphinha scored a wonderful long-range strike as Barcelona overcame Benfica to gain a slender first-leg advantage despite playing most of the game with 10 men.

The Brazilian playmaker bagged the only goal of the contest on the hour mark after Pau Cubarsi had been given a straight red card just 20 minutes into the match when he scythed down Vangelis Pavlidis.

Hansi Flick’s side defended resolutely for 70 minutes, weathering the inevitable attacking onslaught in Lisbon to end Benfica’s eight match unbeaten run in all competitions.

For the hosts, it will feel like a missed opportunity to gain the upper hand in the tie. For Flick and co. they will feel as though they have given themselves a great chance to progress to the last eight.

🔥🔥🔥 FULL TIME! 🔥🔥🔥#BenficaBarça @ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/raPAPi6dCJ

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 5, 2025

How the action unfolded

A raucous Estadio da Luz has often proved a formidable prospect for any visiting team, especially when Benfica are on their mettle.

Barcelona knew that all too well, having only just prevailed in a thrilling 5-4 victory when the two sides met in the league phase back in January.

And it looked like the fans inside the Stadium of Light could be in for another frantic evening as, inside 30 seconds, Barcelona keeper Wojciech Sczczesny was called into action to keep out Kerem Akturkoglu.

It was a blistering signal of intent from the hosts but the La Liga side quickly looked to calm the contest with their usual passing interchanges.

It was then soon the turn of Benfica’s shotstopper, Anatoliy Trubin, to show his worth. The Ukrainian pulled out a string of wonderful saves after the ball found its way to Robert Lewandowski, but the visitors failed to force the ball home.

Barcelona’s hopes of a strong first-leg showing was then handed a hefty blow when, after just 20 minutes, Cubarsi was shown a straight red card when he was adjudged to have denied a goalscoring chance as Pavlidis burst through.

BARCELONA DOWN TO 10 MEN! 🟥

Pau Cubarsi is sent off for a challenge on Vangelis Pavlidis outside the box

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It was far from how Flick envisioned the evening playing out. Benfica, meanwhile, sensed an opportunity. Sczczesny saved well from Pavlidis before the Barcelona boss opted to bolster his defence by replacing Dani Olmo with Ronald Araujo.

With the hosts probing, the visitors would surely have taken a goalless stalemate. But not long after the break, Barcelona were the ones to break the deadlock.

Raphinha, who has been in scintillating form for the Catalan club, bagged his 25th goal of the season – and 43rd goal contribution in 40 games this term – with a wonderful long-rang strike.

BARCELONA BREAK THE DEADLOCK 🔓

It’s déjà vu for Benfica as Raphinha haunts the Estadio de Luz again with a long range strike following Silva’s poor pass

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Pouncing on a Benfica error, the Brazilian charged down on the Benfica backline before arrowing a low left-footed shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Cue wild scenes in the away dugout as the visitors suddenly had something to cling on to.

But there was still a long way to go. Not long after, the hosts then looked like they might have had a penalty when Andrea Belotti went over Sczcesny, but the striker was already offside.

By this point, it was one-way traffic as Benfica desperately went in search of a goal. Joao Rego attempted an overhead-kick. Arthur Cabral caused chaos in the Barcelona penalty area. Sczcesny again came to the visitor’s rescue when batted away Renato Sanches’ late effort.

In the end, their efforts ultimately proved fruitless as Barcelona held on to take a slender advantage back to the Spotify Camp Nou next week.