Cautious optimism

Barça's 1-0 win away in Lisbon thanks to Raphinha's 61st minute goal in the Estádio de Luz against Benfica came despite the setback of losing Pau Cubarsí to a red card half way through the first half. The advantage that Hansi Flick's team take into the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie next Tuesday in the Estadi Olímpic gives culers reasons to be cautiously optimistic. 

On the 12 occasions that Barça have won away from home in the first leg of a tie in Europe, they have progressed on 11 occasions. The only time they have failed to make it to the next round was last season when following a 3-2 win at Paris Saint-Germain, a 4-1 reverse in the second leg sent Xavi Hernández's team out of the competition. 

As for Benfica, the Portuguese giants have never made it through in a tie after losing the first leg at home. More reasons to believe that Hansi Flick's team can make it to the quarter-finals of this season's competition. 

Experience in the last 16 

After winning the away leg in the last 16 of the Champions League, Barça have always made it to the last eight. This happened in 2006 against Chelsea, 2008 against Celtic, 2012 against Bayer Leverkusen, 2014 and 2015 against Manchester City and in 2016 against Arsenal. 

In the last 20 seasons Barça have reached the last 16 on 18 occasions, making it to the last eight on 15.