FC Barcelona achieved a key win away to Benfica despite playing more than 70 minutes a man down, breaking a historic Champions League record. This feat in Lisbon allowed the Catalans to enter the history books of the Champions League, as for the first time in the history of the tournament a team managed to win an away game despite playing 69+ minutes with one player less on the field.
Barça struck first against a Benfica side seeking revenge for the 5-4 scoreline in the previous group stage. The Azulgranas managed to survive a man down thanks to the great performance of Szczesny in goal and a great goal from Raphinha. A narrow victory for the Catalans in Lisbon that they will now have to seal in Montjuic to qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals. Barça will once again start as favorites, especially if they beat Osasuna at home at the weekend in what would be their seventeenth consecutive game unbeaten in a 2025 that is going well despite adversities such as the sending off of Curbasí yesterday. With this result, Barcelona need a draw or a win to advance directly to the next round of the Champions League.
Raphinha and Szczesny also set records
Another ‘record’ set by Barça in their victory against Benfica in the Champions League has to do with the goalscorer of the night, Raphinha. The Barça player has already scored 9 goals in the Champions League, equal with Harry Kane (Bayern) and Lewandowski, but surpasses them with his 5 assists. Therefore, the former Leeds United player has contributed 14 goals. Something that no other participant in the tournament can say.
Another of the stars of the night was the Polish goalkeeper, Szczesny. The keeper has now played fourteen games between the sticks, with a record of eight clean sheets: Barbastro (0-4), Athletic (0-2), Alavés (1-0), Valencia (0-5), Rayo Vallecano (1-0), Las Palmas (0-2) and Real Sociedad (4-0). Now we have to add last night’s game. With it, Barça has not lost: 9 victories and a couple of draws. Something that a Barça goalkeeper had not achieved for a long time.