Raphinha’s Double Sees Barca Soar Past Benfica and Secure Quarter-Final Spot

Barcelona secured their place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with a 3-1 triumph over Benfica in the second leg, advancing with a 4-1 aggregate score. This victory solidifies the Blaugrana’s remarkable status as the lone unbeaten team across all competitions in Europe’s top five leagues in 2025, boasting a record of 14 wins and 3 draws.

After managing a narrow one-goal lead from the first leg in Lisbon, despite facing the challenge of playing with 10 men for over an hour, Barca appeared well-positioned to finish the job on their home turf.

Hansi Flick’s side, fresh for the encounter following their weekend fixture against Osasuna being postponed due to the lamentable passing of their first team doctor, quickly doubled their aggregate lead within 11 minutes. Lamine Yamal’s spectacular run and cross was expertly finished by Raphinha at the back post.

However, Benfica responded just two minutes later, with Nicolas Otamendi nodding home from close range after a well-delivered corner from Andreas Schjelderup, which made him the third oldest scorer in Champions League knockout history.

Not deterred by the early setback, the hosts quickly regained control, with Robert Lewandowski and Yamal both coming tantalisingly close to restoring Barcelona’s lead shortly afterwards.

Eventually, the influential Yamal made his mark in the 27th minute, producing a stunning strike from 20 yards that curled into the far corner, marking his 12th goal of the season.

Moreover, he etched his name in the record books as the youngest player to achieve a goal and assist in a single Champions League match.

With this momentum, Flick’s men sought to put the tie firmly beyond reach before the break, and Raphinha delivered, netting his second of the night with a clinical finish into the bottom corner following an impressive run from Alejandro Balde.

While the hosts understandably eased off in the early stages of the second half, they missed an opportunity to extend their lead further when Frenkie de Jong shot wide from close range after stretching for the ball.

Although the outcome was largely decided, Benfica refused to give up, nearly pulling a goal back when Zeki Amdouni’s goalbound header was heroically cleared off the line by Jules Kounde.

Ultimately, that was the closest either side came to altering the score in the final moments, as Barcelona comfortably saw out the remaining minutes, even while resting several key players ahead of a pivotal La Liga match against title rivals Atletico Madrid this Sunday.

Benfica, on the other hand, will be eager to rebound domestically after their disappointing record against Spanish teams now stands at just three wins from the last 25 encounters, along with 8 draws and 14 losses.