Lamine Yamal propels Barça in memory of team doctor

Barcelona qualified for the Champions League quarter-finals in the name of Carles Miñarro, as a journey they began together continued in his absence.

- Sid Lowe

Yesterday a funeral was held for the club doctor who had died suddenly at the team hotel three days earlier; the same evening, the players he had cared for and who had spent the previous night at the chapel of rest paid homage the only way they really could.

"We tried to do everything for him," Pedri said after they defeated Benfica 3-1 at Montjuïc, a hugely impressive display dedicated to him.

"He will be supporting us wherever he is; it is very important for us to win for him," Hansi Flick had said, and so they did.

A superb first half was enough, Raphinha scoring two and Lamine Yamal becoming the youngest player to score and assist in the Champions League, at 17 years and 241 days.

"What has happened gave us strength," Raphinha said at the end, he also said that Barcelona are candidates to win this competition, and on the evidence here that does not feel like such a leap of faith.