Barcelona Raphinha said the death of the Carles Miñarro team doctor made players even more determined to present a program against Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The Brazilian scored twice to wear his count for the season at 27 in all competitions while Barça won 3-1 at the Olympic night stadium, going to the quarterfinals 4-1 on aggregate.
The victory occurred only three days after Miñarro’s death in the hours preceding the Laliga match on Saturday against Osasuna, which was then postponed. The death cause of 53 years has not been officially announced.
“We entered this even more determined match to win after the death of Carles,” Raphinha told journalists after the match.
Barça coach Hansi Flick also devoted success to Miñarro.
“I said before the match, we wanted to honor the memory of Carles,” said Flick at the press conference after the match. “After what happened, I think it’s good to win for him. Carles is always with us. It’s like that. He always has a place in our team.”
The Spanish, Catalans and Barça flags stole half from the mast to the stadium to mark the death of Miñarro, while a minute of silence was observed before kick -off.
Barça then finished the link with three goals in the first half as they extended their undefeated race in all competitions at 17 games and reached the last eight of the Champions League for the second successive season.
Raphinha opened the scoring very early after a good job of Lamine Yamalbut Nicolás Otamendi Immediately attracted the level of Benfica from a corner.
Yamal restored Barça’s advance with an amazing individual effort, before Raphinha Addition of the third at halftime.
“I am really satisfied with this,” said Flick on the display of his team and their control in the second half. “Benfica is a very good team. I knew they were doing good transitions, but we control the ball, we control the game, we were dominant.
“It was good to see. I think we could score more goals, but we are happy that we are in the quarterfinals.”
Yamal’s goal made him the second youngest scorer in a direct elimination match of the Champions League at 17 and 241 days. The former Barça Bojan Krkic striker remains the youngest.
The brilliant curling effort from the edge of the box was his 12th in the campaign in all competitions, but his first in seven games.
“Awesome,” added Yamal finishing his mini-scheres. “I think everyone was looking for this goal and it’s good for him, it gives him self -confidence.
“It is at the right time that this goal occurs. I am happy for him that he scored again.”
However, despite the goal and assistance of Yamal and Raphinha going to a High 11 goals in the Champions League this season, the midfielder Painter claimed the UEFA MVP Trophy.
“It is 100% in shape and it is good to see what it does with the ball, but also without the ball is incredible,” said Flick about Pedri. “He is in the right position at the moment and, for me, in this position, he is the best in the world.”
Barça will meet Borussia Dortmund or Lille in the quarter-finals, while they are also sitting at the top of Laliga with a match in hand and are to the semi-final of Copa del Rey.
Raphinha gives no limits to what they can achieve this season.
“We are candidates to win each competition,” he said. “We knew that Benfica would come here strong here, but we knew what we had to do to win the game and we focused on this.
“We had the result of our favor from the first stage and we did very well tonight, it was a particularly good first half.”
