Szczesny Shines as Barcelona Edges Benfica 1-0 in UCL

In a crucial Champions League match, Wojciech Szczesny was instrumental in Barcelona's 1-0 victory over SL Benfica, making eight key saves to secure a clean sheet. This performance marked a significant redemption for Szczesny, who had faced criticism after a poor display in a previous encounter against Benfica in January. Despite Barcelona playing with ten men for most of the match due to Pau Cubarsi's red card, they managed to hold on and score the only goal through Raphinha in the 61st minute. Szczesny's efforts were praised by his teammates and manager Hansi Flick, highlighting his role in maintaining the team's defensive strength. Midfielder Pedri noted Szczesny's improvement since the last match against Benfica, emphasizing the importance of their upcoming second leg. Barcelona now looks forward to the return fixture next week, aiming to capitalize on their slim advantage.