Barcelona secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over Benfica in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday, despite playing most of the match with 10 men.

Teenage defender Pau Cubarsí was shown a red card midway through the first half with the score still level, but a second-half strike from Raphinha handed the Catalan giants a crucial away victory in Lisbon.

The Brazilian’s goal in the 61st minute gives Barça a slim advantage heading into next Tuesday’s second leg at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.

Resilient Barça Stand Firm

Barcelona, chasing their first Champions League title since 2015, are among the tournament favorites after a favorable draw, but manager Hansi Flick dismissed the notion of an “easy” tie. His team had to battle hard to prove him right.

"I'm very proud," said Flick after the match. "We had to dig deep, but the team showed great character to get the win."

Szczęsny’s Redemption

Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny, who had endured a nightmare in January’s group-stage match against Benfica, redeemed himself with a series of crucial saves.

The Polish shot-stopper was called into action within seconds, denying Kerem Aktürkoğlu’s early effort. His presence between the posts was crucial, as he later pulled off an outstanding reaction save to deny a powerful header from Vangelis Pavlidis.

"The last time, I don't think he left here very happy," admitted midfielder Pedri. "But tonight, he saved us. That first save was huge—if they score, the game changes completely."

Wojciech Szczęsny

Drama Unfolds

Barcelona’s game plan was thrown into disarray when 18-year-old Cubarsí was sent off after just 22 minutes for a last-man challenge on Pavlidis.

With Barça down to 10 men, Flick reacted by sacrificing Dani Olmo for Ronald Araújo, bolstering the defense to withstand Benfica’s pressure. Szczęsny was again called upon, tipping over a thunderous free-kick from Orkun Kökçü before halftime.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Barcelona remained a threat, and Raphinha delivered the decisive moment of the game.

Raphinha’s Moment of Magic

After Flick introduced Ferran Torres in place of Lamine Yamal, Raphinha capitalized on a loose ball high up the pitch. The Brazilian took his chance superbly, drilling a low, deflected strike past Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin for his ninth goal in nine Champions League appearances.

Barcelona then had to survive a frantic finale as Benfica pushed for an equalizer.

The hosts thought they had won a late penalty when Szczęsny brought down Andrea Belotti, but VAR ruled the play offside in the buildup, allowing Barcelona to escape with their lead intact.

Pedri: "We Knew How to Defend"

Reflecting on the team's resilience, Pedri praised Barça's defensive effort:

"After the red card, we knew exactly what to do—stay compact, defend as a unit, and take our chances on the break."

With a narrow advantage secured, Barcelona now turn their attention to the second leg, where they will aim to finish the job and book a place in the quarterfinals.