benfica vs barcelona
Even though his team was reduced to 10 men for the majority of the game, Raphinha delivered the game-winning goal as Barcelona defeated Benfica 1-0 on Wednesday.
Barcelona’s game took a terrible turn in the 22nd minute when Pau Cubarsí, a young defender, was sent off with a straight red card for a last-man tackle on Vangelis Pavlidis. The Catalan team had to rely on veteran goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny to keep Benfica at bay, and he delivered a masterclass between the posts with a series of incredible saves.
Then, in the 61st minute, Barcelona was fortunate. Benfica made a sloppy defensive pass that went straight to Raphinha, who took advantage of the error and fired a low shot that deflected slightly before settling into the bottom corner. His goal completed a night of tenacity and resolve for the Spanish powerhouses, securing a daring first-leg lead in their Champions League last-16 matchup.
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