Barcelona: United in grief – but determined to pay fitting tribute to one of their own
It took Raphinha 11 minutes to score the first goal of the night against Benfica — and just a few seconds to find a moment to point with his fingers to the Barcelona sky.
There was one individual above him who deserved that.
Barcelona outclassed Benfica with a 3-1 win, 4-1 on aggregate, to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals for the second consecutive season, an achievement fully dedicated to the figure of Carles Minarro — the first-team doctor who passed away aged 53 at the weekend.
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Minarro's death defined the build-up towards the second leg of this Champions League tie for Hansi Flick's side. On Monday evening, the entire first-team squad and backroom staff attended Minarro's wake in the Catalan capital.
The funeral took place in Barcelona on the day of the game, with the club's executive board and first-team captain Marc Andre ter Stegen in attendance.
It was a far from optimal build-up to a Champions League match, but Barcelona responded with a compelling performance. The first 45 minutes were a reminder of what the Catalans have been throughout this campaign — a statement to any side that intends to win the competition. Raphinha scored either side of Lamine Yamal's goal and with a three-goal cushion, Barca could afford to conserve their energy in the second half.
'After what happened this week for us, this is how he wanted to respond,' said Flick during his press conference after the game. 'This is a win for us, but also for Carles (Minarro). He will be with us this season and forever. That's how it is.'
'We wanted to dedicate this win to Dr. Minarro because that's the least he deserves,' said Gavi. 'From now on, anything we do and achieve is going to be for him. He was a fantastic person, we'll miss him a lot.'
Barca players were as good as they have been this season — which tells quite the story. Raphinha's double took him to 11 goals in the Champions League, the most by a Brazilian in a season in the competition.
Yamal, 17, produced his best Champions League performance. He assisted the opener before his stunning curler to the far post, after cutting inside from the right hand-side, made every Barca fan remember you-know-who.
'The prince is not far off becoming the king round this place' 👑
Lamine Yamal's produces a wonderful curler to make it 3-1 on aggregate to Barcelona 🤩
📺 Watch the Champions League LIVE on @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/a26aTIA5Nf
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 11, 2025
And for readers in the U.S.
LAMINE YAMAL STUNS BENFICA…AGAIN 🤩🔥 pic.twitter.com/Jr6XPl9p6D
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 11, 2025
'I would say this is the best goal I have scored with Barcelona so far, yes,' a smiling Yamal said to Spanish TV station Movistar. 'It's at a similar level to the one I scored with Spain against France at the Euro.'
Beyond them there was Pedri, man of the match in both legs against Benfica, or Frenkie de Jong who seems to have been reborn. Alejandro Balde is in the form of his life and delivered the assist for the third goal, and is Inigo Martinez the best left-footed centre-back of the season in the big European leagues?
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But this was an evening to highlight Barcelona's collective mindset and a sense of unity.
Last Friday, Flick was asked about what made his Barca team different from other teams he had managed. 'There is an outstanding atmosphere in this dressing room, you can feel there is something special,' he said.
'The dressing room is unbelievable, everyone takes care of each other. I love to see that. We created a very solid bond not just between the players and between them and all the backroom staff around. Everyone feels that they are important in this project. It's also fair to say it is easier to handle when you win rather than when you lose, but I focus on what I have on my hands to do'.
Words from the manager that help understanding the role and impact the news of Minarro's passing a day later had within the first-team unit. All flags at the Montjuic stadium in Barcelona were flown at half mast in memory of the doctor. Before kick-off, there was a minute's silence while Minarro's face was on the stadium's electronic screens.
All Barca backroom staff members, even those who do not sit on the bench during the game, assembled on the sidelines to link arms together and pay their respects.
This is a squad that has been able to put their egos to the side to benefit the dressing room atmosphere.
Gavi is a perfect example of the togetherness. He a world-class midfielder who is struggling to find his place in the starting line-up due to the form his team-mates are in. 'People outside talk a lot, but I am not going to complain for not being a starter', the 20-year-old said after the match.
'I signed a new five-year contract and I'm going to stay here because this is the club of my life. We are a team that rotates a lot, I missed some chances in recent weeks because I was sick, I know the manager trusts me and I'm calm because I want the best for the team'.
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Pedri had a similar view when speaking to the media afterwards. 'My dad always tells me that even if I have an average game, the least I must do is run my socks off for the rest of the team,' he said when asked about his ball recoveries and off-the-ball effort.
Finally, Yamal praised his attacking partner Raphinha. 'I had to thank him because in the first goal I tried to shoot, but it went so wide he turned it into an assist and scored,' he joked to Movistar. 'I am so happy with every goal he scores, and about the season he is having, I'm so proud of playing in the same team as him'.
Flick has been able to build a family around his squad, and that has been a big factor for the team to navigate through a tragic week. Now there is no fear to take on what is next.
'I believe Barca are contenders to win every competition we are in,' said Raphinha.
They certainly are in the Champions League and have a chance to prove it again in La Liga on Sunday — when they travel to Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid in a title-defining clash.
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