Barcelona secures crucial away win
FC Barcelona has made significant progress towards reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League, winning 1-0 against Benfica Lisbon despite being a player down. The match, part of the Round of 16 first leg, saw Raphinha net the decisive goal in the 61st minute. Pau Cubarsi received a red card for a last-man foul in the 22nd minute, leaving the visitors with ten players.
Prior to the sending off of 18-year-old defender Cubarsi, Barcelona appeared to be in control. Although Benfica started the match aggressively, the Catalan side gradually showcased their individual skills. In the 12th minute, Barcelona missed a golden opportunity to take the lead with a triple chance from Frenkie de Jong, Robert Lewandowski, and Lamine Yamal.
Benfica failed to capitalize on their numerical advantage. Raphinha took advantage of a defensive error from Lisbon to secure the victory for Barcelona. Additionally, Barcelona benefited when a penalty awarded to the home side was overturned by VAR for offside in the 83rd minute. If Barcelona or Benfica advance, they will face Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals, provided Dortmund overcomes OSC Lille (first leg: 1-1).
PSG falls to Liverpool’s late strike
Meanwhile, Paris Saint Germain dominated against a disappointing Liverpool side but ended up losing 0-1. Harvey Elliott scored the only goal of the match in the 87th minute, just moments after coming on for Liverpool’s star player Mohamed Salah. This marked Liverpool’s first shot on target after halftime. Despite PSG attempting over 20 shots, they were repeatedly thwarted by Liverpool’s outstanding goalkeeper, Alisson.
Inter Milan moves closer to quarter-final spot
Inter Milan also set themselves up well for the upcoming return fixture, securing a 2-0 victory against Feyenoord Rotterdam. The win was particularly significant for Inter as they spoiled the international coaching debut of Robin van Persie. Although Inter struggled initially in the first half, they managed to find the net effectively.
Former Gladbach player Marcus Thuram opened the scoring in the 38th minute with one of their few chances. Shortly after the break, Lautaro Martinez extended the lead in the 50th minute. The victory could have been more significant, but Piotr Zielinski missed a penalty against Rotterdam’s German goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther in the 65th minute.
The winner of the Feyenoord versus Inter matchup will face Bayern Munich or Bayer Leverkusen in the quarter-finals, with Bayer leading 3-0 from the first leg.