🚧 Beta Version: We’re refining things - tell us what you think and help us improve!
Syncing...

BAR vs BEN

UEFA Champions League

Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona

Barcelona

vs

Benfica

3
FT
1
(2nd Leg) Agg:
4-1
11' Raphinha
27' L. Yamal
42' Raphinha
13' N. Otamendi
Action
Lineups
All
Facts Only
All
Full-Time: 3 - 1
Thanks for joining me here on Tribe as Raphinha’s brace and Yamal’s screamer helped Barcelona become the first confirmed club in this season’s Champions League quarterfinals, as they eliminated Benfica, this evening: I hope you’ve enjoyed our coverage: I’ve been Rory Morrow, and I look forward to seeing you again soon for another live text commentary!
Up Next - Barcelona sign off for the international break with a huge trip to The Metropolitano on Sunday evening, when they face second-placed, Atletico Madrid. Benfica are also away from home, playing at Rio Ave, in the Portuguese Primeira Liga on the same night.
A bridge too far for Benfica, then, tonight: They'll be left rueing their failure to take advantage of playing against 10 men in last week's 1st Leg as tonight, in the first half, Barcelona blew them away with Raphinha and Yamal the tormentors in-chief. Otamendi's header, whilst well-taken, wasn't built upon or used as a platform to put Barcelona under concerted pressure: The tie all but over before half-time when Raphinha scored his second. In the second half, Benfica gave it a go but had too much to do and too little time to do it in: They bow out at the Last 16.
Raphinha really proved pivotal over these two legs: Involved in all four goals as he scored three of them and assisted Yamal for the other. Raphinha led the way with typical energy in his pressing and two, clinically taken finishes (to accompany his 1st Leg winner) tonight to all but kill off Benfica's hopes. 17-year-old, Yamal, shone again with a scorching goal to restore Barcelona's two-goal lead and breathing room whilst, at the back, Araujo came in as captain to give an assured display, nullifying the influence of Pavldiis, throughout. Into the quarterfinals, Barcelona go and they'll be confident of advancing against whomever they get in the next round: On current form, you wouldn't want to draw Barcelona!
BARCELONA BOOK A QUARTERFINAL PLACE - We have our first, confirmed, quarter-finalists in this season's Champions League as Barcelona beat Benfica 4-1 on aggregate, 3-1 this evening. Holding a precious, 1-0 lead from the 1st Leg last week, Barcelona were ruthless tonight as a brace from Raphinha and stunning strike from Yamal put them clear, despite Otamendi replying for Benfica, in-between. It was a mature, controlled second half as Barcelona maintained their three-goal cushion with ease: They are into the last eight!
90+1'
Szczesny pings a nice ball out to Balde, on the left side of halfway. He cushions it off, inside, to Gavi, who moves into the attacking half, centrally. He then passes back to Araujo, behind him, as Barcelona's controlled performance continues. The home fans are going jubilant now in the stands, knowing that a quarterfinal place is all but assured!
+2
89'
Barcelona win a corner as Otamendi, sliding in, deflects Torres's shot behind. Raphinha swings the set-piece over, from the right. Garcia heads it back across goal but it's a Benfica shirt who gets the next touch as Dahl stretches to clear his lines with a good defensive interception.
87'
Barcelona make a late switch in defence as Garcia comes on for Martinez.