Barcelona claimed a 1-0 win over Benfica in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 at Estadio da Luz on Wednesday night, despite playing over an hour with 10 men, Afrosport reports.
Teenage defender Pau Cubarsi was given a straight red card in the 22nd minute after bringing down Vangelis Pavlidis who was clear on goal.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Catalan giants managed to break the deadlock just past the hour mark thanks to Raphinha’s curled effort that found its way into the bottom corner of the net.
Raphinha gives Barcelona a first-leg lead ✅#UCL pic.twitter.com/LNdCKY3KD4
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 5, 2025
Meanwhile, at the Parc des Princes, Liverpool took a slander lead after defeating Paris Saint-Germain 1-0.
Very little separated both sides in the French capital and just when it seemed it was going to end goalless, substitute Harvey Elliott popped up with the winner in the 87th minute.
Bayern Munich were the biggest winners on the night after recording a 3-0 win over German rivals Bayer Leverkusen at the Allianz Arena.
Harry Kane scored a brace and Jamal Musiala netted the other while Nordi Mukiele was sent off for Leverkusen after two bookable offences.
In the earlier fixture, Italian giants Inter Milan recorded a 2-0 win over Feyenoord at De Kuip, Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez scoring in either half.
