FC barcelona secure the most important win with 10 men

FC Barcelona faced Benfica at the Estadio da Luz on March 5, 2025 for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first-leg match. The match atmosphere in Lisbon became tense as Barcelona won a close game by 1-0. FC Barcelona kept fighting numerous possession minuets with ten players while demonstrating team discipline together with exceptional personal performances. Benfica maintained their efforts to score but the advantage of playing one more person did not prove enough to secure goals. This account will explain the events that happened throughout this dramatic evening.

First Half Action: Early Sparks and a Game-Changing Red Card

Both sides showed determined movements forward right from kickoff. Barcelona committed to maintaining ball possession under the leadership of Hansi Flick as their coach. Bruno Lage along with Benfica directed his team to harness the advantages that their passionate home supporters provided. Initially, the match flowed evenly. Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal created an early attacking opportunity for his team by making a fast run against the Benfica defense during the fifth minute of play though Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin defended the goal successfully. The 12th minute brought a golden opportunity as Benfica midfielder Vangelis Pavlidis almost scored first for his team. Wojciech Szczesny had to save the header that Pavlidis delivered aggressively towards the goal.

Everything transformed abruptly during the 22nd minute. Pau Cubarsi the young Barcelona defender got into a confrontation with Pavlidis when the Greek attacker broke on a rush. In his role as the final defender Cubarsi put together a challenge against Pavlidis in the offensive area beyond the penalty box. The referee Danny Makkelie wasted no time when he displayed a straight red card to the player. A sudden challenge developed for Barcelona following an unfortunate red card. The coach Flick made a strategic move by swapping Fermin Lopez for Ronald Araujo which strengthened the defensive line when the incident occurred in the 22nd minute. Barcelona lost their defensive stability after making their adjustments to midfield.

The setback forced Barcelona to stay strong. The Polish veteran Szczesny responded quickly after the substitution. The Turkish midfielder Kerem Akturkoglu launched a perfectly fashioned bending strike from 20 yards in the 28th minute. Szczesny launched himself to his right and used his head to turn the shot away from goal. Two minutes later Pavlidis attempted a low drive that Szczesny stopped with great assurance. Meanwhile, Benfica grew frustrated. Their control of the game failed to produce sufficient scoring opportunities for themselves. Barcelona played defensively during the second half while holding on to a 0-0 score while the game was still at halftime.

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Second Half Drama: Raphinha’s Moment of Magic

Following halftime, Benfica applied heavy pressure on their rivals. The added substitute player succeeded in pushing Barcelona all the way back into their defensivehalf. At first Joao Mario supervised the midfield passing by feeding the ball to Akturkoglu and Pavlidis. Despite their temporary defensive arrangement Barcelona managed to defensively resist Benfica. During defense Araujo and Kounde made perfect tackles as Balde ran back continuously. The moment arose when Benfica appeared destined for victory against their opposition. From the halfway point until the end of the game Szczesny maintained his status as a defensive strongpoint. A diving reflex kept out Pavlidis’ header attempt during the 52nd minute of play which produced loud reactions from spectators watching.

The scoring opportunity came unexpectedly when Barcelona scored. During the 61st minute Benfica lost control of defending their goal. When Morato played an unprecise pass the ball floated across the penalty area leaving Raphinha to make his strike. Raphinha cut into the space and gained possession before knocking in a low shot. Antonio Silva inadvertently nudged the ball while trying to clear it but the slight kick sent Trubin off course. The ball settled itself within the left side of the goalpost. A raucous cheers rose from the Barcelona crowd as the fans listened to total silence from the Estadio da Luz audience. A single strike from Barcelona gave them their first goal of the match which made the score 1-0 to their advantage.

Benfica encountered their biggest obstacle since the match began. They needed to respond quickly. Lage took the lead from his bench to his players who immediately implemented his directive. Akturkoglu made a break into the box at the sixty-eighth minute but his shot hit the hands of the goalkeeper Szczesny. In the 73rd minute Kokcu delivered a distant shot towards Trubin during his substitute appearance. Each time, Szczesny stood tall. Meanwhile, Barcelona’s players dug deep. Pedri carried his team through the midfield area and Robert Lewandowski refused to give up on any hopeful opportunities. The team members sustained their discipline even though they were completely worn out.

Closing Moments: Barcelona Holds On

Benfica pushed all of their attacking forces forward when the match minutes dwindled. Pavlidis achieved position above others to meet a corner ball but his header missed the target narrowly. In the 89th minute Akturkoglu successfully evaded Kounde before directing a low cross. At the near post Kokcu arrived to receive the pass however Szczesny shot to the ball immediately blocking it with his leg position. Every single defensive play from Barcelona brought relief to the team. Flick monitored the game action from his position on the bench while giving strategic instructions to keep focus.

The team from Benfica made their final effort in the added stoppage time. The extra five minutes brought inspiration but Barcelona players remained steadfast in their purpose. The danger was defused when Araujo cleared the late cross before Balde successfully intercepted the dangerous move. Finally, Makkelie blew the whistle. Barcelona managed to win the match 1-0 against overwhelming adversity. Szczesny lifted his hands to celebrate victory following the final game whistle. The night resulted in disappointment for Benfica when they left with no victory. Benfica controlled both the ball and shot attempts without gaining any points in their effort.

Standout Players: Szczesny Shines, Raphinha Decides

The outstanding performance of Wojciech Szczesny without question earned him widespread praise. Throughout the match Wojciech Szczesny guarded the goal with eight stops while defeating three shots that approached him directly. Following the game’s conclusion Szczesny expressed confidence that his most remarkable performance would arrive in the future. Simon Arrives to save Barcelona when the team faced ten men in the match. The match-winning goal belonged to Raphinha. Szczesny seized a challenging opportunity to demonstrate his worth by converting it into a triumphant outcome.

Benfica fans watched as Pavlidis used his mobility to attack while providing aerial crosses throughout the match. The goalkeeper made Szczesny resist all of his attempts. The Turkish winger Akturkoglu showed brilliant ball control but he failed to convert his scoring opportunities into goals. During the match Trubin spent most of his time retrieving balls from his goal area. The defensive mistake made by Morato prematurely handed attack possession to West Ham United.

Flick’s tactical changes

When Barcelona started the game they intended to maintain exclusive control of the ball. The sending off of Cubarsi created the necessity for Barcelona to adjust their strategy. The 4-4-1 formation change by Flick placed Lewandowski alone as the forward striker while his team adopted a defensive strategy. By letting Benfica gain control the move gave Barcelona enhanced defensive strength. After Araujo entered the match he controlled the defensive block which enabled Kounde to move across the field. Pedri and Gavi sustained their defensive efforts throughout the middle of the field as they moved from position to position. Although Benfica tried to exploit Barcelona through the wing areas the defensive shape of the Barcelona team made it hard for them to create opportunities.

Conversely, Benfica struggled to adapt. With their additional personnel Benfica maintained an overreliance on crossing attacks. The late decision of substitutions by Lage until Kokcu entered the pitch at minute 70 reduced his team’s attacking potential. The players failed to try different shooting techniques against Szczesny which resulted in their demise. In the end, Barcelona’s resilience outshone Benfica’s dominance.

Implications: Advantage Barcelona

The ongoing competition moves forward as Barcelona starts the second match with a thin advantage. The narrow 1-0 result creates prospects for Barcelona while the game remains all but decided. Despite their ability to pose threats at the Camp Nou Benfica proved they had enough quality. Despite a penalty handicap Barcelona will benefit from Araujo’s recovery while facing Benfica in Round of 16. Meanwhile, Szczesny’s form boosts confidence. Their defensive determination will lead to victory if they repeated the same performance.

For Benfica, the loss stings. They created potential scoring situations yet their finishing was unsufficiently dangerous. The Barcelona team could face a significant shift if they score an away goal at the Camp Nou stadium. Forward Pavlidis along with the rest of the attacking unit will need to demonstrate higher levels of performance according to Lage. They need to develop their scoring ability to overcome the present score deficit.

Fan Reactions: A Night to Remember

Fans of Barcelona joyously cheered during the match on X. The fans celebrated Szczesny as a “wall” and Raphinha as a “clutch king” through their social media posts. Supporters of Benfica showed their frustration about missed scoring opportunities while questioning the team approach taken by manager Jorge Lage. Multiple non-partisan observers recognized the match intensity which they described as a true Champions League duel. Every viewer across the globe became enthralled by the intense dramatic moments involving the red card and dramatic saves followed by a dramatic ending.

Next Steps: The Road Continues

The team must confront La Liga opponents then welcome Benfica to their home ground on March 11. For Flick, maintaining momentum matters. Of primary importance to Benfica now is organizing their domestic schedule to achieve success during their return fixture. Both teams know the stakes. While Barcelona maintains the advantage Barcelona continues to face potential risks from Benfica.

Final Thoughts: A Hard-Fought Victory

The March 5 Champions League fixture of 2025 brought about a hard-fought battle characterized by determined play throughout. Barcelona won the match by 1-0 through their determination yet Benfica demonstrated they could be dangerous in their upcoming rematch. The current state of this match could shape the future of both competing teams during the entire competition. Barcelona celebrates their tough-fought triumph while thanking goalkeeper Szczesny along with player Raphinha for their essential contributions to the win.