Raphinha proved to be Barcelona’s hero once again, scoring a crucial goal in the 61st minute to secure a narrow 1-0 win over Benfica in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
This victory comes despite Barcelona being reduced to 10 men in the 22nd minute, following Pau Cubarsi’s straight red card for a last-man foul on Vangelis Pavlidis.
Raphinha’s goal, his 25th of the season and ninth in the Champions League campaign, was a testament to his clinical finishing.
The Brazilian winger capitalized on a defensive error, driving forward and slotting the ball into the bottom corner.
Barcelona’s win was made all the more impressive by their resilience in playing with 10 men for over 70 minutes.
Wojciech Szczesny’s exceptional goalkeeping was instrumental in securing the clean sheet, with the Polish keeper making several crucial saves throughout the match.
The second leg is set to take place at the Camp Nou on Tuesday, March 11, with Barcelona holding a slim advantage.
