By admin 
Barcelona’s hopes of a strong first-leg showing in Lisbon have been handed a hefty blow after Pau Cubarsi was given a straight red card in their first-leg tie with Benfica.
Cubarsi was dismissed with just twenty minutes gone after being adjudged to have denied a goalscoring chance as Benfica’s danger man, Vangelis Pavlidis, burst through.
At half-time, however, the score remained goalless.
It was far from the start Barcelona boss Hansi Flick would have been hoping for, as the La Liga leaders face a potentially nervy evening inside a raucous Estadio da Luz.
BARCELONA DOWN TO 10 MEN! 🟥
Pau Cubarsi is sent off for a challenge on Vangelis Pavlidis outside the box
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/yiDocQTxEm
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 5, 2025
The previous meeting between the two sides in the league phase back in January ended 5-4 to Flick’s side after a thrilling contest.
Benfica will sense an opportunity to enact revenge while also boosting their chances of progressing to the last eight ahead of a second-leg clash at the Nou Camp next week.
The Portuguese side are notoriously strong in front of their home fans and are currently on an impressive eight-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
They beat Monaco 4-3 on aggregate in the league phase play-offs to reach the Round of 16.