Barcelona Advances To UEFA Champions League Quarter-Finals With Convincing Victory Over Benfica

Barcelona has shown themselves as a dominant force in European football by booking a place in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) quarter-finals following a commanding 3-1 victory over Benfica in the second leg of their Round of 16 matchups.

This result, which saw the Catalan club progress with a 4-1 aggregate score, emphasizes their impressive record as the only unbeaten team across Europe’s top five leagues in 2025, boasting 14 wins and 3 draws.

First half

After securing a slender one-goal advantage in the first leg in Lisbon despite competing with only 10 men for over an hour Barcelona was poised to finish the job on home turf.

Both teams started cautiously, but it didn’t take long for Barcelona to assert their dominance. Inside the first 11 minutes, Lamine Yamal, the young sensation, executed a brilliant run and delivered a perfectly timed cross that was expertly converted by Raphinha at the back post.

Benfica’s Resilient Response

However, Benfica, undeterred by the early setback, responded almost immediately.

Just two minutes after Raphinha’s goal, Nicolás Otamendi found the net with a powerful header from close range following an inviting corner by Andreas Schjelderup.

Despite this brief moment of hope for the Portuguese side, Barcelona quickly regained control. Stars Robert Lewandowski and Yamal both came close to extending the lead, with Yamal’s relentless energy and creativity being a constant threat to Benfica’s defense.

It wasn’t long before Yamal made his mark, scoring a stunning goal in the 27th minute. The young prodigy curled a sublime strike into the far corner from 20 yards out, marking his 12th goal of the season.

This remarkable achievement made him the youngest player ever to score a goal and provide an assist in a single Champions League match.

Raphinha’s Brace Secures the Win

Barcelona continued to apply pressure, and their determination paid off just before halftime as Raphinha netted his second goal of the evening. After a marauding run from Alejandro Balde, Raphinha clinically fired into the bottom corner, firmly placing the tie out of Benfica’s reach.

Second half 

As the second half unfolded, Barcelona understandably eased off the gas, focusing on managing the lead while resting key players in preparation for their crucial La Liga clash against title rivals Atlético Madrid on Sunday.

However, the hosts still had opportunities to extend their advantage, with Frenkie de Jong missing a chance to further cement the win by poking wide from six yards.

Benfica, while outmatched, refused to succumb quietly and nearly pulled a goal back through Zeki Amdouni, whose goal-bound header was dramatically blocked on the line by Jules Koundé. Despite a few scares, Barcelona’s defense held firm, and they comfortably navigated the final stages of the match.

Looking Ahead

As the final whistle blew, Barcelona celebrated progression to the quarter-finals with a resounding victory that continues to build on their momentum this season.

The Catalan side remains a formidable contender, with their unbeaten run.

Benfica, on the other hand, will need to regroup quickly, focusing on their domestic campaigns as their dismal record against Spanish opposition now stands at just three wins from their last 25 meetings (with 8 draws and 14 losses).