Barca put in a paradigm-shifting performance against Benfica

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A result under pressure in the Champions League when their back was against the wall

Of course, there is still another leg to go. Barcelona must take care of business at home before the celebrations begin.

But would you bet against them at the moment?

What was going on in your head when Pau Cubarsí was sent off in the 22nd minute? Déjà vu, of course. Last year it was Ronald Araujo against PSG, this year it’s another player, but the same lapse in concentration.

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As for me, when Hansi Flick took off Dani Olmo, I couldn’t believe it. You have to take off the 36-year-old Robert Lewandowski when you’re playing that long with 10 men. Surely, it was just a matter of time before the floodgates opened.

But Wojciech Szczęsny stood tall, proving Flick right when he opted to go with the veteran over the young and unproven Iñaki Peña. And so did the rest of the undermanned Barcelona team.

What Barcelona didn’t do was sit back, absorb pressure, and hope for the best.

Instead, they kept on attacking, surprising Benfica, and perhaps, even themselves.

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And credit in those early moments has to go Pedri and Frenkie de Jong, a two-man midfield machine who made it very clear to their team-mates that Barcelona wasn’t going to stop playing their game. This team has guts. They want the ball, no matter the circumstances, and they go for it.

The brave team won in Lisbon on Wednesday night. They fought hard, but you wouldn’t describe their performance as a team who suffered. Instead, they stayed true to their identity, and were rewarded.

Raphinha continues to be the heart and soul of this team. He got the go-ahead goal, but he also led by example defensively. He never stops putting in the work, and as a result, he has the stats to prove that he is truly one of the very best forwards in Europe.

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This is not a team that looks likely to falter in the Champions League. Quite the contrary, they look very well drilled and prepared for the moment.

It’s been a joy to see them rack up goals this season, but this 1-0 gritty victory, for me, is their best one yet under Hansi Flick.

Barcelona already had momentum building over the past few months, but what a feeling these players must have felt heading into the dressing room at the end of the match. It must have been an incredible affirmation in one another. That this team is going places, this season, and it doesn’t matter what obstacles are thrown in their way.

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As a fan, I would just say thank you for proving me wrong. This is not the same Barcelona that we have grown accustomed to in the Champions League.

This is a battle tested group whose eyes are on Munich.

Benfica, get out of their way. Barcelona is a team on a mission.

Source: barcablaugranes.com