FC Barcelona secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over SL Benfica in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash at Estádio da Luz.
Despite going down to ten men early after Pau Cubarsí’s red card in the 22nd minute, Barcelona showed resilience and tactical discipline. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny put in a standout performance, making several crucial saves to keep Benfica from capitalizing on their numerical advantage.
The breakthrough came in the 61st minute when Raphinha produced a moment of magic. The Brazilian fired a stunning strike from outside the box, curling the ball past a helpless Benfica keeper. The goal, reminiscent of prime Ronaldinho and Neymar, combined power, technique, and precision—an absolute masterpiece.
Barcelona fans erupted with joy, while even neutral spectators couldn’t help but admire the brilliance of the strike. With this crucial away win, Barça heads into the return leg at Montjuïc in a strong position, looking to seal their place in the quarter-finals.
If you missed Raphinha’s wonder goal, you NEED to see it!
