WHAT HAPPENED?
Barcelona beat Benfica 3-1 on Tuesday to ease into the Champions League quarter-finals. Raphinha and Lamine Yamal were the standouts for Hansi Flick’s side, with the Brazilian scoring a brace to take his tally to the season to 27 in all competitions. The former Leeds forward is also the top scorer in the Champions League with 11 goals from just 10 matches.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
It subsequently emerged that Raphinha’s heroics for Barcelona came despite the forward spending the morning in hospital with his son. Raphinha’s wife, Natalia Rodrigues Belloli, posted a touching message to her husband after the game and spoke of her pride at his performance and also the way he cares for his family.
WHAT NATALIA SAID
She posted on Instagram: “I’m so proud of you, my love. You were there early in the hospital with our boy, and yet you still did your job so masterfully. A great father and professional. We love you.”
DID YOU KNOW?
Raphinha has scored 11 goals in the Champions League this season, the most of any Brazilian player for any club in a single campaign, ahead of legendary players like Kaka and Neymar.
WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA
Barcelona will go on to play either Lille or Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals of the tournament. In the meantime, Hansi Flick’s head to Atletico Madrid in La Liga in a huge top-of-the-table clash on Sunday.