Barcelona 3-1 Benfica (Agg: 4-1) - Raphinha and Lamine Yamal magic fires Barca into UEFA Champions League quarter-finals

Champions League / Last 16
Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys / 11.03.2025
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Aggregate score 4-1
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20:05
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FC Barcelona
RAPHINHA AND YAMAL INSPIRE SUPERB BARCELONA VICTORY
Lamine Yamal produced one of the goals of the tournament as the 17-year-old winger crashed home Barcelona's stunning second in a 3-1 UEFA Champions League victory over Benfica that booked their place in the last eight.
Leading 1-0 from last week's first leg in Lisbon, Hansi Flick's dominant La Liga leaders made a fast start to the evening at the Olympic Stadium with Yamal setting up Raphinha to finish with a volley on 11 minutes.
But the lead lasted only two minutes as Benfica, chasing a first European victory for a Portuguese side at Barcelona since Porto in the 1972 UEFA Cup, equalised when Nicolas Otamendi crashed home a header from a corner.
That prompted Barca to move up several gears with Yamal accepting a pass from Raphinha to send a wonderful curling effort into the net from outside the box on 27 minutes before Raphinha killed off the visitors with a clinical third on 42 minutes from a sweeping counter, taking his tally to 11 goals in 10 Champions League games.
Holding a 4-1 aggregate lead, the tie was already over as a contest at half-time, but Benfica deserve credit for continuing to battle until the end in suffering their third defeat of the season against Barca in this season's competition.
Barcelona progress to a meeting with the winner of Lille v Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday evening with that match finely poised at 1-1 from the first leg.
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Highlights: Yamal wonder goal sees impressive Barcelona into the quarter-finals

Video credit: TNT Sports


20:05
JOE COLE ON BARCELONA BRILLIANCE AGAINST BENFICA
"It's great to have them back in the latter stages of the competition," said the former England attacker on TNT Sports.
"Robert Lewandowski springs to mind, he must be loving life. If you're a 36, 37-year-old forward who's still got it, but starting to lack mobility, you want young players, exciting players, technically gifted players, and a good structure around you.
"He looks like he could go on for another four or five years. Yamal, what can you say about him that hasn't already been said?
"The kid's still a baby. What he's achieved already is incredible. If his career stops now, tomorrow he's a great player. It will be interesting how they nurture him.
"I look at Pedri and Gavi, who were similar, not quite as far along as Yamal in terms of what they've done. But top young players, in Europe. But both of them have missed games and picked up injuries.
"So Barcelona have a responsibility to that young man to make sure in 10 years we're still talking about him, and not keep playing him and keep playing him.
"That's the temptation, You have to be smart with these young players."

19:45
WHAT FOOTBALL IS ON TNT SPORTS?
TNT Sports will show over 500 matches from the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League, as well as exclusive Premier League games across the 2024-25 season.
The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.
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Yamal wonder strike puts Barca ahead again - 'Prince becoming King'

Video credit: TNT Sports


90+2'
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THERE GOES THE FINAL WHISTLE!
A 3-1 victory for the home side, and they progress to the quarter-finals with a 4-1 aggregate victory. A double from Raphinha bookended a stunning finish from Lamine Yamal. Next up is Borussia Dortmund or Lille in the last eight.

90'
TWO MINUTES ADDED TO THE MATCH
Barcelona fans getting ready to celebrate another superb victory in the UEFA Champions League. Look like they are going to be among the challengers to lift this trophy.
88'
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ALMOST A DONE DEAL FOR THE NIGHT
A few more late changes that will make no material difference to the outcome of this match. Eric García replaces Iñigo Martínez for the home side with João Rêgo on for Tomás Araújo for the visitors.
86'
AMDOUNI THREATENING WITH A HEADER
Well, Amdouni rises well in the box, but Wojciech Szczesny is alert to make the stop helped by the covering work of Kounde.

84'
FC Barcelona
RAPHINHA IS ENJOYING THESE NIGHTS OUT AROUND EUROPE

82'
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FC Barcelona
MORE BARCA CHANGES BEING MADE
Casado and Fermin Lopes are on as Yamal and De Jong are giving a breather and a big reception from the delighted home supporters.
80'
BENFICA HAVE NOT STOP TRYING
But it has been a tough old ask for the visitors tonight as Renato Sanches misses by a fair old margin with his finish from distance after a surging run.
78'
MORE STOUT BARCA DEFENDING
Some very solid blocking work by Barca. VAR takes a quick look for a potential penalty, but nothing doing. Barca almost into the last eight.
76'
GAME MANAGEMENT SKILLS FROM BARCA
Have kept the ball very nicely in this second half as they look to see out this match without any late drama. In command of the ball and their future in this competition.
74'
TORRES GOES FOR GOAL WITH FREE-KICK
Too much pace and too high as it drifts well over the target after Torres had been felled by Otamendi. It remains 4-1 on aggregate.
72'
Benfica
A DOUBLE BENFICA CHANGE
Leandro Barreiro replaces Florentino and Andrea Belotti takes over from Orkun Kökçü.
71'
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FC Barcelona
MORE CHANGES ARE MADE
Ferran Torres and Gavi are on as Lewandowski and Olmo are given a standing ovation from the home fans in the main stand.
69'
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WATCH: BARCELONA AT THEIR BRILLIANT BEST
Some more excellent play by Raphinha to get this attacking move on the go. Just needed the finish.

67'
BARCA INCHES AWAY FROM THE FOURTH
Frenkie de Jong with a superb surging run before he knocks wide on the stretch from the Jules Koundé pass. Pavlidis with a shot held by Szczesny at the other end. Didn't have the power to beat the Polish goalkeeper.

65'
FC Barcelona
RAPHINHA IS STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS

63'
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ANOTHER OFFSIDE FLAG STOPS BENFICA PROGRESS
Vangelis Pavlidis is again the man who sees the flag raised as he tried to open up Barca with Antonio Silva also involved. Not sure we are going to see a great escape here this evening.
61'
HEADING FOR LAST HALF-HOUR OR SO
Fair to say, Barcelona have done the heavy lifting in the first half of this match. Lille and Dortmund level at 1-1 from the first leg. Barca will fancy their chances on this form.