Barcelona comfortably booked their place in the Champions League quarter-finals with a commanding 3-1 victory over Benfica on Tuesday, sealing a 4-1 aggregate win.
The Catalans were in sensational form, with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha playing pivotal roles in a thrilling first-half performance that ensured their progression.
Raphinha found the net twice, sandwiching a breathtaking strike from Yamal, as Barcelona extended their 1-0 advantage from the first leg in Lisbon.
Despite an early equalizer from Benfica’s Nicolás Otamendi, the visitors struggled to keep up with Barcelona’s relentless attacking pressure at the Olympic Stadium.
The match opened with a heartfelt tribute to Barcelona’s late club doctor, Carles Minarro, who tragically passed away on Saturday.
The players observed a moment of silence before kick-off in his honor, a fitting tribute as the team played in his memory.
Barcelona took the lead in the 11th minute, with Spain international Yamal showcasing his skill.
The 17-year-old winger darted into the box, evading a challenge from Florentino, before mishitting the ball across to Raphinha, who made no mistake in finishing from close range.
Benfica quickly responded with a header from Otamendi off a corner, leveling the score within two minutes.
However, Barcelona, led by their dynamic wingers, quickly regained control.
Yamal, who had been searching for his first goal in seven matches, delivered a moment of brilliance.
Cutting in from the right, the young talent unleashed a stunning shot that curled past Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin and into the far corner of the net, restoring Barcelona’s lead.
Raphinha then grabbed his second goal of the evening before the break, completing a perfect counter-attack orchestrated by Alejandro Balde.
Balde won the ball deep in his own half and surged forward, slicing open Benfica’s defense before setting up Raphinha for a clinical finish.
The goal was Raphinha’s 11th in the competition, keeping him atop the Champions League scoring charts.
Despite being without the injured Ángel Di María, Benfica struggled to break down Barcelona’s defense, and Fredrik Aursnes’ second-half goal was ruled out for offside against Vangelis Pavlidis.
Benfica’s challenge was further stifled by an excellent display from Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who had been a key figure in the first leg.
Barcelona continued to press for a fourth goal, with Frenkie de Jong coming close in the dying minutes, only to fire wide after a brilliant team move.
With the win secured, Barcelona now awaits their quarter-final opponent, either Borussia Dortmund or Lille.
Their attention will also turn to a crucial La Liga clash against Atlético Madrid this Sunday as they continue their bid for the Spanish title.
