Underlining their standing as a real Champions League contender, Barcelona formally booked their quarter-final ticket as they secured a 3-1 victory towards Benfica in Catalonia.
Opening Tuesday’s showdown holding a slender 1-0 benefit following their winner in Lisbon final week, Hansi Flick’s males put in one other eye-catching European efficiency right here.
Watching the red-hot Raphinha open the scoring after simply 11 minutes, it appeared that Barca had been going to breeze their strategy to a last-eight spot with out having to interrupt a lot of a sweat.
Nonetheless, whereas former Manchester Metropolis defender Nicolas Otamendi may need briefly silenced the house assist after powering house simply seconds after Raphinha’s opener, Barca didn’t take lengthy to reestablish their dominance.
Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal produced a outstanding whipped effort simply earlier than the half hour mark as Barcelona’s free-scoring assault as soon as once more ran rampant house soil.
With Raphinha placing the cherry on prime of the cake moments earlier than the half-time break because the Brazilian ace prolonged on his record-breaking European romp, Barca may have received by an excellent larger margin however Frenkie de Jong missed a golden likelihood so as to add a fourth late on.
Already reserving their their quarter-final spot, the Spanish giants will now face a last-eight showdown towards both Lille or final season’s finalists Borussia Dortmund.
On a night when Barcelona prolonged on their Champions League journey, we’ve taken a take a look at the primary speaking factors from Catalonia.
Barca are a European contender
Whereas some round Catalonia may need been shocked final summer season following Flick’s arrival, Barcelona have launched into a sensational rise below the previous Bayern Munich boss.
At present main the chase on the prime of the La Liga desk, Tuesday’s hosts have continued to obtain a string of plaudits from throughout the continent and must be thought-about as a real European contender this season.
Mustering 19 factors from their eight group stage appearances this yr and breezing their strategy to a knockout stage ticket with out having to get out of third gear, Barca are within the midst of an actual purple patch.
With some round Catalonia now dreaming of the prospect to finish an iconic double-winning marketing campaign this season, Flick’s males discover the temper of their camp at a red-hot excessive.
Topped Tremendous Cup champions again on January twelfth following a well-known 5-2 win towards arch-rivals Actual Madrid, Barca have additionally not suffered a single defeat throughout any competitors since opening the New Yr.
Raphinha steals all of the headlines once more
Whereas Polish record-breaker Robert Lewandowski could be storming his strategy to this season’s La Liga Golden Boot, it’s one other certainly one of Barca’s attacking superstars who has stolen loads of the headlines round Catalonia.
Though there may need been loads of hypothesis final summer season that Raphinha might be set for an virtually fast exit, the 28-year-old has loved a outstanding marketing campaign throughout all fronts.
Bagging the winner in Lisbon final week as Barcelona returned to Spain with a slender 1-0 benefit, the Brazilian worldwide as soon as once more proved to be Flick’s saviour on Tuesday night.
Notching a first-half brace right here and placing in one other Man of the Match efficiency in Catalonia, some have even billed Raphinha as a real Ballon d’Or contender.
The truth is, remarkably notching 11 objectives in his 10 Champions League appearances this season and sat on the prime of the European goalscoring charts, Raphinha can also be averaging a strike each 76 minutes.
Positives in defeat for Benfica
Whereas Benfica may need watched their Champions League journey come to an finish on Tuesday night as they failed to supply what would have been a well-known comeback in Catalonia, Bruno Lage’s males ought to take loads of positives away from their knockout exploits.
Asking Barcelona a string of questions in Lisbon final week and unlucky to haven’t claimed a first-leg benefit, the previous Wolves boss can’t have too many complaints about the way in which his facet carried out over the previous week.
Regardless of dropping every of their three European showdowns towards Barca this season, Benfica will now have their full deal with finishing a home sweep over the following couple of months.
Sat inside touching distance of climbing to the highest of the Primeira Liga standings, Tuesday’s company have loved an actual home romp this season and are assured of recapturing their crown in 2025.
Regardless of ultimately being overpowered by the Spanish high-flyers over each legs, Benfica deservedly gained loads of respect and must be excited by their European exploits this season.
Match Report
Barcelona: Szczesny, Kounde, Araujo, Martinez, Balde, de Jong, Pedri, Olmo, Yamal, Raphinha, Lewandowski
Subs: Javi, Torres, Lopez, Casado, Garcia
Benfica: Trubin, Araujo, Silva, Otamendi, Dahl, Kokcu, Luis, Aursnes, Akturkoglu, Pavlidis, Schjelderup
Subs: Belotti, Sanches, Rego, Amdouni, Barreiro
Objectives: Barcelona: Raphinha (11’, 42’), Yamal (27’) – Benfica: Otamendi (13’)
Yellow Playing cards: Silva
Pink Playing cards: N/A
Referee: François Letexier
