Three talking points from Barcelona 3-1 Benfica

Yahoo

12-03-2025

Barcelona's third game of the season against Benfica was as entertaining as their previous meetings have been, although the team was far more dominant on this occasion and much more ruthless.
It was always clear that the first goal on under night would be critical in deciding the flow of the game and Raphinha delivered that much-needed goal for Barcelona in just the 11th minute.
Benfica's instant response with an equaliser reduced Barcelona's lead back to just one goal but Yamal and Raphinha struck again to make it 4-1 on aggregate and assure the dressing room of a place in the quarterfinal.
Barça Universal brings you three talking points from Barcelona 3-1 Benfica.
There may not be two better wingers in world football than Lamine Yamal and Raphinha at this moment and Barcelona are lucky to have both in their ranks.
The duo, despite having contrasting playing styles, have a common threat factor in the final third and last night exemplified how ruthless they can be with quality and precision.
Lamine was at the heart of Barcelona's first two goals against Benfica and produced moments of magic on both occasions to create goals out of thin air.
His dribble to get into the Benfica box for the opener was a thing of beauty as left the defence bamboozled and found a perfectly timed cross to Raphinha. His goal was one of superior beauty as he chipped the ball over the defence into the back of the net from a distance.
Yamal's threat down the right flank was a constant during his time on the field and he created openings with almost every attacking push.
Raphinha, meanwhile, was the epitome of precision. He was at the right place at the right time to score off Yamal's assist and then struck from distance with a precise shot to complete his brace.
While the limelight is rightfully focused on Yamal and Raphinha, Barcelona's defence put up a sensational shift to constantly hold the offside trap and keep Benfica from coming back into the game after their early goal.
Ronald Araujo and Alejandro Balde, in particular, were simply dominant.
The former replaced Pau Cubarsi at centre-back last night and a lot was said about how his deployment would have a negative impact if Barcelona were to play a high-line.
Araujo, however, showed that he is adapting to Flick's plans as he held his line to near perfection and never looked like a loose screw.
His distribution was promising and he deserves credit for the manner in which he not only resiliently defended but kept Benfica constantly offside.
Balde also enjoyed a very special night and was simply unplayable at left-back for Barcelona. Despite being tasked with a serious defensive task, the Spaniard terrorised Benfica's right flank as he constantly pushed forward and got past his men to break free.
In fact, it was he who pioneered Barcelona's third goal on the night through a vicious counter-attack which Raphinha eventually converted.
The 3-1 scoreline last night and the 4-1 result on aggregate meant Barcelona qualified for the next round of the UEFA Champions League and into the business end of the campaign.
Despite facing serious pressure against Benfica, especially in the first leg, Barcelona kept their cool and completed their win with reasonable comfort. Last night's game with 22 players on the field was decided before half-time and it is clear that the team are still going strong.
Now into the final eight, Barcelona will meet one of Borussia Dortmund or Lille in the quarterfinal. The first leg in Germany ended in a 1-1 draw and Lille have the home advantage for tonight's eliminator.
The rest of the road to Munich is also shaping up well with Inter Milan and Bayern Munich both winning their games and qualifying for the quarter-finals. Barcelona will meet the winner of the game between the two giants in a potential semifinal.
The biggest development of the night, needless to say, was the elimination of Liverpool at the hands of PSG. The top-placed team in the league stage is thus out of the competition now and will not threaten Barcelona's chances of tasting the silverware in any capacity.