‘We had the same situation’ – Benfica coach optimistic despite 0-1 loss to Barcelona in UCL round of 16 first leg

The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash between Benfica and FC Barcelona proved to be an intense and dramatic affair, with the Catalan giants securing a narrow 1-0 victory in Lisbon. Despite being reduced to 10 men early in the game, Barcelona showed resilience and tactical discipline to take an advantage into the second leg at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium.

Barcelona’s task became significantly harder in the 22nd minute when young defender Pau Cubarsí received a straight red card for a last-man tackle. With one man down, the Blaugrana had to readjust their strategy and focus on absorbing Benfica’s attacking pressure. The hosts, enjoying numerical superiority, pushed forward in search of a breakthrough but failed to capitalize on their dominance.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 62nd minute when Brazilian winger Raphinha found the back of the net, scoring what turned out to be the decisive goal of the night. His clinical finish gave Barcelona a crucial away goal and a psychological edge heading into the second leg.

While the night belonged to Barcelona, Benfica were left frustrated after failing to convert their chances. However, their head coach, Bruno Lage, remains optimistic about his team’s chances in the return fixture. Speaking to the media after the match, Lage expressed confidence that his squad could overturn the deficit.

“We have to go to Barcelona to win in order to advance to the next round. That was the message we sent in the locker room, and it’s with that mentality that we have to approach the match against Nacional and then prepare for the game against Barcelona,” Lage stated.

Benfica created multiple scoring opportunities throughout the match but struggled to find the back of the net. Lage pointed out the team’s strong attacking intent and lamented their inability to convert key chances.

“We started with a great chance from Akturkoglu after 20 seconds and ended the match with another excellent opportunity. In 90 minutes, there were many chances. The most important thing is to appreciate what we did against a great team and recover as soon as possible,” the Benfica coach added.

Drawing from past experiences, Lage remained hopeful that Benfica could stage a comeback in Barcelona. He referenced a similar situation in their previous tie against AS Monaco, where his team had lost the first leg but managed to overturn the deficit in the return fixture.

“We had the same situation with Monaco, and the tie was decided in the second leg by winning there. The result leaves expectations for the second match. Based on the chances we had, we could have achieved a different result, but that doesn’t take away our ambition for the return leg,” he explained.

The red card to Cubarsí forced both teams to adjust their tactical setups. While Barcelona had to defend deeper and play on the counterattack, Benfica had to modify their approach to break down a compact defense.

“The game changed with the red card. At first, we were trying to get in behind the defense; afterward, we had to push both full-backs forward and take advantage of the space on the flanks,” Lage observed.

Despite the defeat, Benfica still have everything to play for in the return leg. With a single-goal deficit, a strong performance in Barcelona could see them turn the tie around and advance to the quarter-finals. However, they will have to contend with a Barcelona side that has shown incredible resilience and tactical intelligence under Hansi Flick.

Barcelona, on the other hand, will look to build on their advantage while welcoming back a full-strength squad. The second leg promises to be an electrifying contest as Benfica seek redemption and Barcelona aim to secure their spot in the next round.

The decisive fixture will take place at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium next week, with both teams preparing for what could be a defining night in their European campaigns. Will Barcelona finish the job at home, or can Benfica stage a stunning comeback? The stage is set for a thrilling showdown in Spain.