The Champions League round-of-16 second-leg match took place on March 11, 2025 at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys when FC Barcelona confronted Benfica. The stakes loomed large. Barcelona entered this match following their tight yet winning 1-0 victory in Lisbon while needing to finalize their place in the quarter-final round. The team battled to achieve a decisive 3-1 victory while securing their place in the quarter-finals with a sum of 4-1 aggregate. The short-lived Benfica defense caused the spectators to maintain high tension throughout the match.
Fast Start: Raphinha Ignites the Night
The game began with Barcelona pushing toward the opposition during the kickoff. The game horn kicked off the match with Pedri passing instantly to Lamine Yamal after the whistle. During the opening minutes of the match the youngster sprinted toward the opposing side while all defenders struggled to catch up. In the 11th minute Raphinha produced a performance of sparkling quality. The Brazilian winger Yamal made two quick moves against two players before delivering a quick cross. Raphinha produced a perfect volleyed strike to score from the distant left side of the post. The stadium erupted. After scoring first Barcelona kept their advantage at 1-0 during the match and maintained their total score lead at 2-0. Barcelona demonstrated their domination through their 92% successful passes during the first ten minutes of the game.
Yet, Benfica responded swiftly. Ángel Di María delivered a perfect corner kick toward the goal as Nicolás Otamendi leaped to become the highest rising player in the penalty box. With a strong header Otamendi scored past the opposition goalkeeper Szczęsny. Suddenly, the score leveled at 1-1. The aggregate tightened to 2-1. A brief spell of anxiousness filled the spectator stands. However, Barcelona refused to falter. During the initial stage of the match Benfica managed two shots on target from their total 34 percent possession.
Yamal’s Magic: Barcelona Regain Control
Barcelona made a swift strategic change after the equalizing goal occurred. Frenkie de Jong took control of the ball possession while Pedri darted endlessly throughout the pitch. Yamal took center stage during the 27th minute. He obtained the ball on the right wing before heading toward the center and subsequently delivered a left-footed arc. A fantastic strike from Yamal found its destination in the top corner beyond the reach of Anatoliy Trubin. The crowd roared again. Barcelona established a two-goal advantage in this contest by scoring twice through a 2-1 score in the match at 3-1 accumulation total. Before the half ended Yamal had carried out four dribbles which gave Barcelona their highest xG total at 1.8.
Meanwhile, Benfica struggled to regroup. Barcelona defended their position while Orkun Kökçü and his Benfica midfield attempted a relentless press. Ronald Araújo made a powerful tackle followed by Iñigo Martínez making a crucial clearance to prevent danger. Prior to the thirty-minute mark Barcelona controlled the game to such a degree that their possession reached 67%. Raphinha executed another dangerous scoring opportunity during the first half period. Raphinha received the pass from De Jong before smashing a low shot that Trubin denied by his quick reaction. Barcelona held the advantage at halftime after both teams took 12 shots while Benfica managed only five.
Raphinha’s Redemption: Sealing the Deal
The players increased their pace significantly as the match passed its halftime point. Benfica made several rushes toward the goal to rescue themselves from the match. Pavlidis attempted a run against Martínez who managed to cut off his path. Di María fired a dipping shot as his second attempt towards Szczęsny’s goal. The Polish keeper saved the ball by using his punch. During this limited time period Benfica accumulated a higher rate of ball control that reached 38%. However, Barcelona soon regained control.
The Argentine winger repeated his strike by delivering his second goal during the 42nd minute. From his starting position the left Alejandro Balde made a crossing play forward. The Brazilian winger struck the ball on his first touch and hit a goal into the net. Fans of Camp Nou let out cheering waves across the stadium. Barcelona held a 3-1 lead during that game with a 4-1 advantage in the total score. After that goal Barcelona gained a decisive advantage in the match. The heads of Benfica players sank as Barcelona maintained their commanding attitude on the field. Raphinha delivered two goals through three accurate shots which raised his Championship League season total to 11.
Midfield Mastery: Pedri Shines
Throughout, Pedri dazzled. The player moved swiftly between the defense and attack structures as he made countless connecting plays while continuously applying high-pressure. Together with De Jong he directed the midfield operations. During that period Olmo positioned himself in dangerous positions across the field to naturally generate open spaces for his teammates. During that match Olmo provided a pass to Robert Lewandowski who immediately spun before shooting. The goalkeeper blocked the strike though the attacker’s desired objective became evident. Consequently, Benfica found no answer. Pedri successfully carried out 95% of his 68 passes which stood as the match high yet he also managed to win six duels.
Hansi Flick decided to remove Robert Lewandowski from the match when he replaced him with Ferran Torres. The move refreshed Barcelona’s attack. Trubin blocked Torres when he received a Yamal pass and broke free to shoot. Still, the hosts pressed on. The attacking attempt by Kerem Aktürkoğlu failed to generate a successful response for Benfica. The goalkeeper Szczęsny saved easily as Aktürkoğlu made his attempt after moving inside. Thus, Barcelona’s grip tightened. The attacking team fired their 20th shot before the 70-minute mark which represented twice the number of shots compared to Benfica’s eight.
Defensive Resilience: Shutting the Door
The match passed while Barcelona defensive players demonstrated exceptional performance. Throughout the match Araújo delivered powerful challenges to shut down Pavlidis in aerial battles in which he came out victorious 80% of the time. Throughout the match Jules Koundé managed to stop the runs of Di María. Balde used his speed together with accurate passing abilities from the left field. Benfica finally found a minimal opportunity to attack the goal in the 75th minute of the match. Kökçü launched a free kick that resulted in Otamendi missing his header. The unimpressive nature of their performance was reflected in that goalless attempt. The xG metric showed Benfica’s ineffective attacks with a value of 0.9.
Flick decided to substitute Olmo with Marc Casadó shortly after the game started. The young substitute maintained perfect transitions into the game with his positive impact. Barcelona successfully played through the remaining minutes of the match. Late on, Benfica pushed desperately. The ball arrived from Aktürkoğlu through a cross and Szczęsny successfully prevented it from entering the goal. The substitute striker João Mário fired a distant shot that met the blocking arm of Martínez. Despite their efforts, Benfica faded. Szczęsny proved to be vital through his five crucial saves during the match.
Key Moments: Turning Points Defined
A number of decisive moments formed the outcome of the match according to retrospective analysis. First, Raphinha’s opener set the tone. After Yamal scored his brilliant goal he ended Benfica’s brief surge forward in the match. To finalize the match Raphinha scored his second goal. Benfica demonstrated their quality through their short-lived resistance against Barcelona. Still, Barcelona’s ruthlessness prevailed. Final data revealed a drastic imbalance since Barcelona managed 64% control of the ball while making 582 passes compared to Benfica’s 279 and earned 14 fouls versus their 8.
Tactically, Flick outsmarted Bruno Lage. The Barcelona team took advantage of Benfica’s defensive structure through their speedy counterattack movements. Meanwhile, their pressing disrupted the visitors’ rhythm. The Benfica team depended on both set pieces and counterattacks for their offensive plays. Two attempts remained the only shots Benfica managed throughout the entire match because their attacking motion lacked precision. For Barcelona, every starter contributed. Pedri and Raphinha emerged as the most influential players on the victory.
Looking Ahead: Quarter-Finals Beckon
Now, Barcelona march into the quarter-finals. The victory boosts their confidence. However, tougher tests await. The following challengers potentially include teams like Manchester City and Bayern Munich. The strengths of Yamal’s flair complement Raphinha’s recent form as Pedri maintains his guile to make Barcelona look dangerous. Benfica leaves the competition without any regrets while maintaining their domestic league focus. The team maintains its domestic competition while Europe ends at this point. A mediocre performance becomes evident even with their four corners set up.
The entire match belonged to Barcelona as they triumphed over Benfica. The Camp Nou stadium fans delighted throughout the entire match. The team from Barcelona lit up the field since the kickoff began. Then, they overcame a scare. Finally, they finished with flair. Flick sees this success as part of his path toward achieving victory. Benfica should take this match as an opportunity to learn about precise football professionalism. Despite the results the Champions League will continue to bring matches until the next round.
Key Statistics Summary
- Final Score: Barcelona 3-1 Benfica (4-1 aggregate)
- Possession: Barcelona 64% – Benfica 36%
- Shots: Barcelona 20 – Benfica 8
- Shots on Target: Barcelona 7 – Benfica 2
- Passes Completed: Barcelona 582 – Benfica 279
- Pass Accuracy: Barcelona 91% – Benfica 83%
- Expected Goals (xG): Barcelona 2.7 – Benfica 0.9
- Corners: Barcelona 6 – Benfica 4
- Fouls: Barcelona 8 – Benfica 14
- Barcelona executed 12 dribbles while Yamal led with 4 attempts during the match against Benfica completing 5 dribbles.
- Saves: Szczęsny 5 – Trubin 4
- Duels Won: Barcelona 52 – Benfica 44
