10-man Barcelona snatches gutsy win over Benfica
Barcelona claimed a hard-fought 1-0 Champions League victory over Benfica thanks to Raphinha's second-half strike.
Former Sporting CP attacker Raphinha struck just after the hour mark against his old club's rivals at Estadio da Luz, having capitalised on a sloppy pass from Benfica's Antonio Silva.
Yet Barca far from had it all its own way, with Hansi Flick's team having been reduced to 10 men in the 22nd minute, when Pau Cubarsi saw red for a last-man foul on Vangelis Pavlidis.
Barca goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, though, turned in a brilliant display, making a string of saves to set the stage for Raphinha's match-winning effort.
Szczesny had another big stop to make late on, denying Renato Sanches, as despite having 26 shots and accumulating 1.9 expected goals to Barca's 1.19, Benfica were thwarted.
