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Raphinha scored twice, and Lamine Yamal added a stunning goal as Barcelona cruised past Benfica with a 3-1 victory in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. This dominant performance secured their place in the quarterfinals with a 4-1 aggregate win.
Barcelona now awaits the winner of Lille vs. Borussia Dortmund, who will clash on Wednesday after a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Germany.
Yamal’s Magic and Raphinha’s Brilliance
It was a special night for 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, who was unplayable down the right flank. The young Spanish winger was at the heart of most of Barcelona’s attacking moves, making life miserable for Benfica’s defenders.
Yamal’s moment of brilliance came early, as he danced past two defenders before delivering a pinpoint cross to Raphinha, who volleyed home from close range in the 11th minute. However, Benfica responded just two minutes later when Nicolas Otamendi capitalized on a corner to level the score.
Barcelona didn’t slow down, continuing to apply pressure. Yamal tormented Benfica’s left-back Samuel Dahl, created big chances for Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo, and nearly scored himself with a shot from outside the box. Eventually, his persistence paid off in the 28th minute when he curled a stunning left-footed shot into the top-right corner past keeper Anatoliy Trubin.
At just 17 years and 241 days old, Yamal became the youngest player in Champions League history to both score and assist in the same match, breaking Breel Embolo’s previous record by 22 days.
Raphinha then extended Barcelona’s lead in the 42nd minute with a clinical counterattack, making him the top scorer of this season’s Champions League with 11 goals. In doing so, he surpassed Brazilian legends like Jardel, Rivaldo, Kaka, Neymar, and Roberto Firmino, who all previously held the record with 10 goals in a single campaign.
Barcelona's Unstoppable Momentum
In the second half, Barcelona controlled the game effortlessly, with Benfica failing to pose any real attacking threat. The Catalan giants dictated the tempo, making it feel more like a training session than a high-stakes European knockout tie.
Barcelona’s 17-game unbeaten streak across all competitions remains intact as they continue to chase three major titles. They are currently leading La Liga and have also advanced to the Copa del Rey semi-finals, where they played out a thrilling 4-4 draw against Atletico Madrid in the first leg. The second leg is set for April 2.
"We are real candidates on all fronts," Raphinha told Movistar Plus. "We knew Benfica would come here quite strong, but we were focused and knew what had to be done. We played a good first half and secured the win."
On Yamal’s sensational goal, Raphinha added, "It was spectacular. It shows what he is—a player with tremendous quality. With him on our side, we have everything to win."
With Yamal’s emergence, Raphinha’s record-breaking form, and Barcelona’s growing confidence, the Catalan giants are proving they are serious contenders for the Champions League title this season.