Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News 
Raphinha has firmly established himself as one in every of Barcelona’s most essential gamers this season, as soon as once more proving his value by scoring a decisive purpose in opposition to Benfica.
His contribution was essential in securing a hard-fought victory for a Barcelona facet that needed to battle by means of adversity, significantly after the early dismissal of Pau Cubarsi.
The match took an sudden flip when Cubarsi obtained a purple card simply 21 minutes into the sport. Barcelona had entered the match with a transparent recreation plan, however the sending-off pressured them to regulate their strategy.
“We had an thought earlier than the sport, the expulsion modified the plans and a very powerful factor is that we knew the right way to keep centered.
“We knew that we needed to endure and the essential factor is that we got here out with a optimistic outcome,” stated the scorer.
Hansi Flick’s message
Raphinha scored the match-winner in opposition to Benfica. (Picture by Gualter Fatia/Getty Pictures)
Raphinha additionally shared insights into Hansi Flick’s directions following the purple card. The Brazilian ahead acknowledged that the sport turned considerably tougher, requiring the staff to dig deep and defend with self-discipline.
Nonetheless, Barcelona embraced the problem, remained compact, and capitalised on the few alternatives that got here their approach.
“The expulsion modified the way in which we performed, I personally knew that the match was going to be sophisticated and that we needed to endure, we knew the right way to endure and defend and we received outcome for Barcelona.”
On Szczesny’s efficiency
The Brazilian additionally had a lighthearted second when discussing the efficiency of Wojciech Szczesny, who had a standout recreation in purpose.
He joked about having the Polish goalkeeper in his fantasy soccer staff and being happy with the factors he earned from his distinctive show.
“What a recreation he had!” Raphina congratulated herself, including, amused: “I’ve him in my fantasy and right now he gave me plenty of factors.”
Jules Kounde talks
Jules Kounde was decisive for Barcelona. (Picture by David Ramos/Getty Pictures)
In the meantime, Jules Kounde was one other standout performer on the night time. The French defender performed a vital function in sustaining Barcelona’s defensive stability after they have been diminished to 10 males.
He highlighted the significance of such victories in shaping the season, noting that typically groups should adapt their fashion of play to safe outcomes.
“I’m comfortable, the sort of match marks the season. We don’t say something to Europe, the message we now have given right now is for us as a result of typically you must play differently.
“As we speak we needed to decrease the defence a bit as a result of taking part in in opposition to Benfica, with one man much less and the road superior, would have been very tough.
“It should be famous that we now have tailored and the trouble of the staff, ranging from the forwards to the purpose,” stated the defender.
Having fun with the competition
Kounde additionally mirrored on the character of the victory, evaluating it to the thrilling 4-5 win Barcelona had beforehand secured in opposition to Benfica within the group stage.
Kounde is proud of the outcome. (Picture by Gualter Fatia/Getty Pictures)
From a defender’s perspective, he most well-liked the slim 1-0 victory, as maintaining a clear sheet is all the time a precedence.
“I like a 0-1 greater than a 4-5 as a result of as a defender I all the time desire a clear sheet.”
Regardless of taking part in with a person down for over 70 minutes, Barcelona displayed exceptional willpower and defensive self-discipline.
Kounde acknowledged that whereas Benfica did create possibilities, most of them got here from extensive areas relatively than breaking by means of the centre, which was a testomony to Barcelona’s compact defensive construction.
“While you play with one much less participant, you must put in further effort and we did properly, closing down on the within and never leaving many areas for Benfica.
“It’s true that that they had possibilities however they got here from the skin, so I feel we did fairly properly,” he concluded.
