Synopsis
In the UEFA Champions League, Barcelona edges Benfica 1-0 despite playing with ten men for most of the match, thanks to Raphinha's stunning goal. Liverpool also claimed victory over PSG with a late goal from Harvey Elliot, showcasing resilience in tough matches.Key Takeaways
- Raphinha scores the decisive goal for Barcelona against Benfica.
- Szczesny delivers an outstanding performance in goal for Barcelona.
- Liverpool secures a narrow win over PSG with a late goal from Harvey Elliot.
- Inter Milan and Bayern Munich also achieve important victories in their matches.
- Controversial VAR calls affect the outcome of the PSG match.
Lisbon, March 6 (NationPress) Raphinha netted the sole goal as FC Barcelona played with a man down for 70 minutes to secure a 1-0 victory against Benfica in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash, enduring pressure for nearly the entire match.
The match commenced energetically with Kerem Akturkoglu having his attempt saved by Barcelona's goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, followed by Nicolas Otamendi having a shot blocked as Benfica began on the front foot.
At the opposite end, Dani Olmo shot just wide, but Barcelona was soon reduced to ten men when Pau Cubarsi received a red card for taking down Vangelis Pavlidis, who was the last defender, as reported by Xinhua.
Szczesny denied Orkun Kokcu's free kick, prompting Barcelona coach Hansi Flick to substitute Olmo for defender Ronald Araujo.
Raphinha had a promising opportunity for Barcelona, while Szczesny showcased his skills with a quick save to thwart Pavlidis' close-range attempt.
The Barcelona goalkeeper continued to shine with two more crucial saves early in the second half, before Ferran Torres came on for the fatigued Lamine Yamal. Shortly after, Raphinha put Barcelona in the lead with a spectacular shot into the bottom corner from long range.
Despite Benfica ramping up the pressure, Szczesny delivered an exceptional performance, highlighted by a remarkable save to deny Renato Sanchez in the dying moments.
Meanwhile, in another match, Liverpool's substitute Harvey Elliot scored the only goal as Liverpool triumphed 1-0 over Paris Saint-Germain, who were left frustrated despite dominating the game for most of the time.
Elliot had been on the field for less than a minute when he received a pass from Darwin Nunez and fired a left-footed shot to score, even as his team had been under significant pressure.
PSG started the match with intensity, with Ousmane Dembele posing numerous challenges for Liverpool down the right flank.
After a corner earned by Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia managed to find the net with a beautiful curling shot, only for VAR to disallow it for a marginal offside.
The home team maintained dominance with further attempts from Dembele and Kvaratskhelia being thwarted by Alisson Becker.
The pattern persisted after halftime, with PSG pushing forward while Liverpool defended resolutely. Reds' coach Arne Slot made a double substitution at the 67th minute, bringing on Nunez and Curtis Jones for Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz.
In another significant match, Inter Milan achieved an impressive 2-0 victory over Feyenoord. The only remaining Italian team in the Champions League took the lead when Marcus Thuram converted Nicolo Barella's cross from close range.
Lautaro Martinez extended Inter's lead five minutes into the second half with an assist from Piotr Zielinski, who later had a chance to secure the tie from the penalty spot, but his attempt was saved by Feyenoord's goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther.
In an all-German clash, Bayern Munich faced Bayer Leverkusen, where Harry Kane opened the scoring with a ninth-minute header from Michael Olise's cross.
Jamal Musiala doubled Bayern's advantage in the 54th minute from close range, and Kane sealed the deal with a penalty after being fouled by Edmond Tapsoba, leaving Leverkusen with a daunting challenge in the return leg.
