Barcelona defeated Benfica 1-0 in Lisbon on Wednesday to place themselves in pole place to succeed in the final 16 of the Champions League. Raphinha’s second half strike proved to the distinction between the 2 groups, whereas Wojciech Szczesny additionally produced an enormous efficiency on the Estadio da Luz to stop the Portuguese giants from discovering the again of the online.
It was a dogged efficiency from Barcelona, who performed with 10 males from the halfway level within the first half after Pau Cubarsi was despatched off for a final man problem on Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis. Hansi Flick was very pleased with the show from his aspect, as he made clear throughout his post-match press convention (by way of MD).
“I’m very happy with the workforce. After being right down to 10 males within the twenty second minute, it’s an ideal efficiency from the gamers. We performed an clever sport. We had a great goalkeeper at present, who was unbelievable for us. We have now defended as a unit and that’s the essential factor. I’m completely satisfied for them.”
Flick was additionally filled with reward for Pedri, who delivered one other midfield masterclass on his method to one other MVP efficiency.
“He’s at a brutal, unbelievable degree. We’re completely satisfied for him.”
Cubarsi’s early crimson card compelled Flick to convey on Ronald Araujo to associate Inigo Martinez within the centre of defence. Dani Olmo was the participant sacrificed for this alteration, and the midfielder was visibly aggravated at being taken off, though his supervisor tried to justify the choice post-match.
“It occurs, I had to decide on. It had nothing to do with him or his efficiency, it was solely to do with tactical changes. I feel we made the appropriate modifications within the sport.”
Barcelona are actually agency favourites to succeed in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, even with Cubarsi unavailable subsequent week. In the event that they do progress, they may play both Borussia Dortmund or Lille.