Barcelona are in pole place to achieve the quarter-finals of the Champions League after securing a 1-0 victory over Benfica within the first leg of their spherical of 16 tie on the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon.
Hansi Flick’s facet had been virtually 1-0 down inside 18 seconds when Kerem Akturkoglu was performed in, however Wojciech Szczesny made an enormous save. Quickly after, Barcelona ought to have gone forward however for a triple save from Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, who denied Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal from shut vary.
On 22 minutes, the sport dynamic took an enormous flip as Barcelona had been decreased to 10 males. Vangelis Pavlidis ran by way of on aim, and simply earlier than reaching the penalty space, he was taken down by Pau Cubarsi. The younger defender claimed that he received the ball, however replays confirmed that he didn’t. As such, he was despatched off by referee Felix Zwayer, with the choice confirmed by VAR.
Benfica couldn’t discover a aim within the opening 60 minutes, and so they had been made to pay for that as Barcelona scored in opposition to the run of play. A poor cross from defender Antonio Silva was intercepted by Raphinha, who raced in direction of aim earlier than firing an unstoppable effort previous Trubin and into the far nook, which sparked joyous scenes amongst Flick and his teaching employees within the dugout.
Benfica began to get much more determined after conceding, and so they thought they’d received a penalty when substitute Andrea Belotti was fouled inside the realm by Szczesny, however the Italian striker was offside, which was confirmed after a VAR test.
Szczesny made eight saves in complete, which the final coming within the closing phases from a nice strike from Renato Sanches. In the long run, he was capable of grasp on to his clear sheet, and it implies that Barcelona have a one-goal benefit going into the second leg on the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in six days’ time.