Barcelona were reduced to 10 men after an early red card but goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny came through when his team needed him in a hard-fought win over Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Szczesny made some big saves at Benfica's Stadium of Light in Barcelona's 1-0 away victory in the first leg of the round of 16.
The first stop came seconds into the match when Szczesny showed quick reflexes to extend his right hand and deflect a close-range low shot by Benfica forward Kerem Akturkoglu.
Szczesny also stopped a free kick taken by Orkun Kokcu in the 25th, after defender Pau Cubarsi was sent off with a straight red in the 22nd for a foul from behind on forward Vangelis Pavlidis.
Szczesny showed quick hands again for his third great save in the first half after a close-range header by Akturkoglu in the 43rd.
The Polish goalkeeper continued his good performance in the second half as Benfica kept pressing forward and creating scoring opportunities.
The 34-year-old Szczesny came out of retirement to join Barcelona after regular starter Marc-Andre ter Stegen sustained a serious knee injury last year.
Flick had to replace playmaker Dani Olmo with defender Ronald Araujo in the 28th after Cubarsi was dismissed.
The 18-year-old Cubarsi fouled Pavlidis from behind as the Benfica forward was just about to enter the area with only Szczesny to beat.
The second leg is next Tuesday in Barcelona.
Benfica vs Barcelona latest news
- Raphinha leads ten-men Barcelona to key win over Benfica
Good night!
23:02 , Jonathan GorrieThanks for joining Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Barcelona’s win over Benfica.
Find our match report below!
Raphinha leads ten-men Barcelona to key win over Benfica
22:03 , Jonathan GorrieRaphinha scored the only goal of the game as ten-man Barcelona beat Benfica in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 clash.
FT: Benfica 0-1 Barcelona
22:02 , Jonathan GorrieA CRUCIAL win for Barcelona, sealed by the imperious Raphinha.
They take a lead back to Spain next week.
Benfica 0-1 Barcelona
22:00 , Jonathan Gorrie93 mins: Another huge save from Szczesny, who keeps Sanches’s fierce volley out.
Benfica 0-1 Barcelona
21:58 , Jonathan Gorrie88 mins: It’s all Benfica now but Barca are just about clearing lines!
Can they hang on?
Benfica 0-1 Barcelona
21:49 , Jonathan Gorrie84 mins: Saved by VAR! Belotti was offside before the collision, meaning Barca get a free-kick instead.
Benfica 0-1 Barcelona
21:48 , Jonathan Gorrie81 mins: Belotti rounds Szczesny, who brings him down.
It may have been offside, however.
Benfica 0-1 Barcelona
21:47 , Jonathan GorriePENALTY TO BENFICA!
Benfica 0-1 Barcelona
21:42 , Jonathan Gorrie75 mins: Some result for Barca if they can see this out.
Down to ten men for most of the game, they’ve done exceptionally well.
Benfica 0-1 Barcelona |
21:35 , Jonathan Gorrie68 mins: Szczesny saves well to deny Aursnes’s shot from just outside the box.
GOAL! Benfica 0-1 Barcelona | Raphinha 61'
21:28 , Jonathan Gorrie61 mins: GOAL!
Barca have their breakthrough and it’s that man Raphinha again!
Benfica 0-0 Barcelona
21:23 , Jonathan Gorrie57 mins: Benfica have to get something here. They’ll be kicking themselves all the way to the Camp Nou if not.
Benfica 0-0 Barcelona
21:18 , Jonathan Gorrie52 mins: Yamal sees his shot blocked. It’s not been his night so far.
Benfica 0-0 Barcelona
21:15 , Jonathan Gorrie47 mins: Szczęsny denies Kocku, who had found space for a shot just inside the box.
Benfica 0-0 Barcelona
21:14 , Jonathan GorrieBack underway!
HT: Benfica 0-0 Barcelona
20:54 , Jonathan GorrieNothing to split the sides.
Benfica 0-0 Barcelona
20:49 , Jonathan Gorrie45 mins: Into five added minutes here.
Benfica 0-0 Barcelona
20:44 , Jonathan Gorrie43 mins: Another big save from Szczęsny to deny Aktürkoğlu’s header from close range.
Benfica 0-0 Barcelona
20:41 , Jonathan Gorrie39 mins: The air is thick with the smoke from the fireworks as Benfica look to press home their advantage.
Disciplined defensively from Barca thus far.
Benfica 0-0 Barcelona
20:37 , Jonathan Gorrie35 mins: We’re back as Benfica clear a corner with ease.
Benfica 0-0 Barcelona
20:36 , Jonathan Gorrie34 mins: Brief break in play here after fireworks go off behind the Benfica goal...
Benfica vs Barcelona
20:33 , Jonathan Gorrie31 mins; Barca have done well since the sending off. They remain in control of the ball and aren’t letting Benfica trouble them all too much.
Benfica 0-0 Barcelona
20:25 , Jonathan Gorrie23 mins: Good save from Szczęsny to deny Kokcu’s free-kick.
Benfica 0-0 Barcelona
20:24 , Jonathan Gorrie22 mins: The decision stands after a VAR check. Benfica have a very dangerous free-kick just outside the box...
Benfica 0-0 Barcelona
20:23 , Jonathan Gorrie21 mins: RED CARD!
Cubarsí given his marching orders for a foul on Pavlidis, who was bearing down on goal.
Benfica 0-0 Barcelona
20:19 , Jonathan Gorrie18 mins: Benfica looking very dangerous on the break, even if Barca are dominating possession.
Benfica 0-0 Barcelona
20:13 , Jonathan Gorrie12 mins: Brilliant triple save from Trubin to deny Lewandowski and Raphinha from close range!
Benfica 0-0 Barcelona
20:11 , Jonathan Gorrie10 mins: Trubin cuts out Kounde’s cross after a brilliant run from the defender.
After a fast start, the tempo has slowed here.
Benfica vs Barcelona
20:08 , Jonathan Gorrie06 mins: Barca now starting to get their foot on the ball but Benfica are not leaving many gaps.
Benfica vs Barcelona
20:03 , Jonathan Gorrie03 mins: Olmo fires just wide for Barcelona.
Benfica vs Barcelona
20:03 , Jonathan Gorrie02 mins: Brilliant start from Benfica, Aktürkoglu forcing a save from Szczęsny in the opening few seconds.
Benfica vs Barcelona
20:02 , Jonathan GorrieKICK-OFF!
Benfica vs Barcelona
19:21 , Jonathan GorrieHere come Benfica!
📍 Em 𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗔! 🏟️#SLBFCB • #UCL pic.twitter.com/EnxQsZLCwX
— SL Benfica (@SLBenfica) March 5, 2025
Confirmed Benfica lineup
18:57 , Jonathan GorrieBenfica XI: Trubin; Araujo, Silva, Otamendi, Carreras; Aursnes, Barreiro, Kokcu, Akturkoglu, Pavilidis, Schjelderup
Subs: Soares, Cabral, Belotti, Prestianni, Dahl, Felix, Santos, Felix, Bajrami, Rego, Sanches, Prioste
Confirmed Barcelona lineup
18:51 , Jonathan GorrieBarcelona XI: Szczesny; Kounde, Martinez, Cubarsi, Balde; De Jong, Pedri, Olmo; Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha
Subs: Arajuo, Ferran, Fati, Pena, Torre, Fermin, Casado, Victor, Eric, Kochen, Fort, Martin
Benfica vs Barcelona
18:27 , Jonathan GorrieA look inside tonight’s venue...
Current Weather: pic.twitter.com/Kuw4TqB3Dx
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 5, 2025
Benfica vs Barcelona
18:14 , Jonathan GorrieA message from a legend!
Força Barça ❤️💙 #ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/eRPKRzfkvy
— Andrés Iniesta (@andresiniesta8) March 5, 2025
Benfica vs Barcelona
18:01 , Jonathan GorrieGoing to some atmosphere...
𝑻𝑯𝑰𝑺 𝑭𝑬𝑬𝑳𝑰𝑵𝑮 🤩❤🔥#UCL pic.twitter.com/fz9EIyve01
— SL Benfica (@SLBenfica) March 5, 2025
Benfica vs Barcelona
17:50 , Jonathan GorrieWhat a game...
Remember this?#BenficaBarça pic.twitter.com/YgdXAtEuXx
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 5, 2025
Benfica vs Barcelona: Latest Champions League odds today
17:43 , Jonathan GorrieBenfica – 11/4
Draw – 16/5
Barcelona – 4/5
Odds via Betway
Benfica vs Barcelona: Head to head (h2h) history and results
17:34 , Jonathan GorrieBenfica wins: 2
Draws: 4
Barcelona wins: 4
Benfica vs Barcelona: Champions League score prediction tonight
17:32 , Jonathan GorrieWhile nine goals may not be served up this time, we should still see plenty of action at either end of the pitch.
Barcelona's front three have 69 goals between them so far this season, while Vangelis Pavlidis has seven in 10 in the Champions League this term, including a hat-trick in that goal bonanza in January.
The Spanish giants should prove too much for their Portuguese hosts, and could have the tie all but wrapped up after the first leg.
Benfica 1-3 Barcelona
Barcelona team news vs Benfica today
17:32 , Jonathan GorrieBarcelona expect Gavi to be fit to play after an illness ruled him out of the win over Real Sociedad, but may not start ahead of the midfield three of Dani Olmo, Pedri and Frenkie de Jong.
Raphinha scored the 96th-minute winner the last time these two teams played, and is looking for his 13th goal involvement in his ninth Champions League game of the season.
Benfica team news vs Barcelona today
17:31 , Jonathan GorrieBenfica are sweating over the fitness of both Angel Di Maria and Florentino after the two midfielders were unable to train over the weekend. The pair are currently expected to miss the game.
January signing Bruma is ineligible to play after not being registered to play in the Champions League, though has a three-game ban in European competitions hanging over his head in any case.
Benfica vs Barcelona: TV channel and live stream for Champions League today
17:31 , Jonathan GorrieTV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports.
Live stream: Fans can catch the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog.
Welcome
17:25 , Jonathan GorrieGood evening and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Benfica’s huge Champions League clash against Barcelona.
Kick-off from Estadio da Luz in Lisbon is at 8pm GMT.
