Barcelona Secures Win Over Benfica Despite Setting Unwanted Record

Barcelona clinched a dramatic 5-4 victory against Benfica in the seventh round of the UEFA Champions League, but their defensive frailties were once again exposed as they set an unwanted club record.

According to Opta Sport, the Catalan giants conceded three goals from the first three shots on target by their Portuguese opponents—a defensive lapse unprecedented in the club’s Champions League history since data collection began in the 2003/04 season.

Despite the defensive struggles, the victory keeps Barcelona firmly in contention for the knockout stages. They currently sit second in the overall group stage standings with 18 points, trailing only the leaders.

Their final challenge in this phase comes on January 29th, when they face a tough test against Atalanta, with a chance to solidify their position heading into the next round.