March 11, (THEWILL) – Barcelona progressed to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals following a commanding 3-1 victory against Benfica in the second leg of their last-16 tie.
The Catalan club delivered a clinical performance at Camp Nou, with Brazilian winger Raphinha scoring twice and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal adding a spectacular goal to seal their advancement in the prestigious European competition.
The hosts established control early in the match, breaking the deadlock when Raphinha volleyed home from Yamal’s delivery.
Nicolas Otamendi briefly levelled for the Portuguese side with a powerful header from a corner, but Barcelona quickly reasserted their dominance.
Yamal restored the lead with an exquisite curled effort into the far corner, displaying the remarkable talent that has made him one of football’s most exciting prospects in 2025.
Barcelona extended their advantage before half-time through another Raphinha finish, effectively ending Benfica’s hopes of a comeback.
The visitors thought they had reduced the deficit shortly after the restart when Fredrik Aursnes found the net, but their celebrations were cut short by an offside flag.
Robert Lewandowski and Frenkie de Jong later missed opportunities to increase the margin of victory, though these missed chances proved inconsequential.
As he did in the first leg, Wojciech Szczesny maintained Barcelona’s comfortable lead with assured goalkeeping throughout the second half, as the Spanish giants completed a professional performance.
The victory continues Barcelona’s improved European form this season, with their attention now turning to a quarter-final clash against either Lille or Borussia Dortmund in the next round of the competition.
The result provides further evidence of the potential of Hansi Flick’s side to challenge for the trophy.
Under their current management, the blend of experienced internationals and emerging talents like Yamal has created a formidable unit capable of competing against the continent’s elite clubs.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
