Barcelona 3-1 Benfica (Barca win 4-1 agg): What Have been The Predominant Speaking Factors As Barca Storm Their Approach To A Champions League Quarter-Remaining Ticket?

Underlining their standing as a real Champions League contender, Barcelona formally booked their quarter-final ticket as they secured a 3-1 victory in opposition to Benfica in Catalonia.

Opening Tuesday’s showdown holding a slender 1-0 benefit following their winner in Lisbon final week, Hansi Flick’s males put in one other eye-catching European efficiency right here.

Watching the red-hot Raphinha open the scoring after simply 11 minutes, it appeared that Barca have been going to breeze their technique to a last-eight spot with out having to interrupt a lot of a sweat.

Nevertheless, whereas former Manchester Metropolis defender Nicolas Otamendi may need briefly silenced the house help after powering residence simply seconds after Raphinha’s opener, Barca didn’t take lengthy to reestablish their dominance.

Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal produced a outstanding whipped effort simply earlier than the half hour mark as Barcelona’s free-scoring assault as soon as once more ran rampant residence soil.

With Raphinha placing the cherry on prime of the cake moments earlier than the half-time break because the Brazilian ace prolonged on his record-breaking European romp, Barca might have gained by a good greater margin however Frenkie de Jong missed a golden likelihood so as to add a fourth late on.

Already reserving their their quarter-final spot, the Spanish giants will now face a last-eight showdown in opposition to both Lille or final season’s finalists Borussia Dortmund.

On a night when Barcelona prolonged on their Champions League journey, we now have taken a have a look at the principle speaking factors from Catalonia.

Barca are a European contender

Whereas some round Catalonia may need been shocked final summer season following Flick’s arrival, Barcelona have launched into a sensational rise underneath the previous Bayern Munich boss.

Presently main the chase on the prime of the La Liga desk, Tuesday’s hosts have continued to obtain a string of plaudits from throughout the continent and must be thought of as a real European contender this season.

Mustering 19 factors from their eight group stage appearances this 12 months and breezing their technique to a knockout stage ticket with out having to get out of third gear, Barca are within the midst of an actual purple patch.

With some round Catalonia now dreaming of the possibility to finish an iconic double-winning marketing campaign this season, Flick’s males discover the temper of their camp at a red-hot excessive.

Topped Tremendous Cup champions again on January twelfth following a well-known 5-2 win in opposition to arch-rivals Actual Madrid, Barca have additionally not suffered a single defeat throughout any competitors since opening the New 12 months.

Raphinha steals all of the headlines once more

Whereas Polish record-breaker Robert Lewandowski could be storming his technique to this season’s La Liga Golden Boot, it’s one other one in every of Barca’s attacking superstars who has stolen loads of the headlines round Catalonia.

Though there may need been loads of hypothesis final summer season that Raphinha may very well be set for an virtually quick exit, the 28-year-old has loved a outstanding marketing campaign throughout all fronts.

Bagging the winner in Lisbon final week as Barcelona returned to Spain with a slender 1-0 benefit, the Brazilian worldwide as soon as once more proved to be Flick’s saviour on Tuesday night.

Notching a first-half brace right here and placing in one other Man of the Match efficiency in Catalonia, some have even billed Raphinha as a real Ballon d’Or contender.

In actual fact, remarkably notching 11 targets in his 10 Champions League appearances this season and sat on the prime of the European goalscoring charts, Raphinha can be averaging a strike each 76 minutes.

Positives in defeat for Benfica

Whereas Benfica may need watched their Champions League journey come to an finish on Tuesday night as they failed to provide what would have been a well-known comeback in Catalonia, Bruno Lage’s males ought to take loads of positives away from their knockout exploits.

Asking Barcelona a string of questions in Lisbon final week and unlucky to haven’t claimed a first-leg benefit, the previous Wolves boss can’t have too many complaints about the best way his facet carried out over the previous week.

Regardless of dropping every of their three European showdowns in opposition to Barca this season, Benfica will now have their full concentrate on finishing a home sweep over the following couple of months.

Sat inside touching distance of climbing to the highest of the Primeira Liga standings, Tuesday’s visitors have loved an actual home romp this season and are assured of recapturing their crown in 2025.

Regardless of finally being overpowered by the Spanish high-flyers over each legs, Benfica deservedly gained loads of respect and must be excited by their European exploits this season.

Match Report

Barcelona: Szczesny, Kounde, Araujo, Martinez, Balde, de Jong, Pedri, Olmo, Yamal, Raphinha, Lewandowski

Subs: Javi, Torres, Lopez, Casado, Garcia

Benfica: Trubin, Araujo, Silva, Otamendi, Dahl, Kokcu, Luis, Aursnes, Akturkoglu, Pavlidis, Schjelderup

Subs: Belotti, Sanches, Rego, Amdouni, Barreiro

Objectives: Barcelona: Raphinha (11’, 42’), Yamal (27’) – Benfica: Otamendi (13’)

Yellow Playing cards: Silva

Crimson Playing cards: N/A

Referee: François Letexier