On a special European night, coach Hansi Flick led his team, Barcelona, to a valuable victory over host Benfica with a score of 1-0 in the match that took place on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in the first leg of the Round of 16 of the Champions League.
This victory gave the Catalan team an important advantage before the second leg at its home stadium, Montjuïc, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, March 11.
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According to information received from the Spanish newspaper “El Nacional,” after Barcelona’s epic victory over Benfica in the first leg of the Round of 16 of the Champions League, the atmosphere inside the Catalan team’s dressing room was not only filled with joy, but also witnessed great tension and protests from the team’s duo: Yamal and Dani Olmo.
Although Barcelona’s victory at the Stadium of Light was valuable, some players could not escape the feeling of anger after Hansi Flick’s sudden decision. The duo, Yamal and Olmo, were upset about being substituted in the match, even though many felt that the player who deserved to be substituted was Robert Lewandowski.
Barcelona were suffering from a numerical disadvantage after Coparsi was sent off early in the match, and with Lewandowski aging, it was clear that he no longer had the ability to put pressure on Benfica’s defense as he had previously.
The Polish player lacked vitality and speed, which affected the team’s performance in general. Despite this, Lewandowski remained on the field until the final minutes of the match, with Flick making his substitution just ten minutes before the end.
The players Yamal and Olmo did not hide their dissatisfaction with the German coach’s decision. In their opinion, it would have been more appropriate to replace Lewandowski instead of them, especially since he did not perform at the expected level in the match due to his declining physical fitness and inability to move quickly. For them, it would have been better to rely on the speed and vitality of younger players such as Yamal and Olmo, particularly given the difficult situation the team was experiencing after the expulsion.
When the match ended with Barcelona winning, it seemed like an important victory for the team, but the atmosphere in the dressing room was not what everyone expected. The Barcelona duo were very angry with Flick’s decision, which they considered illogical. Yamal and Olmo did not believe Lewandowski should have continued in the match for such a long time, especially given his clear decline in form. Flick, on the other hand, preferred to continue relying on him for a longer period, which raised questions about the coach’s decision-making style.
