Barcelona dedicates victory and advancement to the deceased team doctor

Barcelona dedicates victory and advancement to the deceased team doctor

  • InNews 2025/03/12 01:04
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Barcelona striker Raphinha said the death of team doctor Carles Miñarro made the players even more determined to put on a show against Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday.


The Brazilian scored twice to take his tally for the season to 27 goals in all competitions as Barca won 3-1 at the Olympic Stadium on the night to advance to the quarter-finals 4-1 on aggregate.


The victory came just three days after Miñarro died in the hours before Saturday's postponed LaLiga clash with Osasuna. The 53-year-old's cause of death has not been officially announced.


"We came into this game even more determined to win after the passing of Carles," Raphinha told reporters after the game.


Barça coach Hansi Flick also dedicated the success to Miñarro.


"I said before the match we wanted to honor the memory of Carles," Flick said in the post game news conference. "After what happened, I think it's good to win for him. Carles is always with us. It's like that. He has always a place in our team."

The Spanish, Catalan and Barça flags flew at half-mast at the stadium to mark Miñarro's passing, while a minute's silence was observed before kick-off.


Barça then broke the deadlock with three first-half goals to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to 17 games and book their place in the last eight of the Champions League for the second successive season.


Raphinha opened the scoring after good work from Lamine Yamal, but Nicolás Otamendi equalised for Benfica from a corner.


Yamal restored Barça's lead with a stunning individual effort before Raphinha added a third on the stroke of half-time.


Barça will now face either Borussia Dortmund or Lille in the quarter-finals, while La Liga leaders are also through to the Copa del Rey semi-finals with a game in hand.

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