Article

Rafinha thrilled with Champions League start

6 December 2012 14:15

Young Barcelona playmaker Rafinha was delighted with his starting berth in his club's scoreless draw against Benfica on Wednesday.

The 19-year-old featured for 58 minutes in the Champions League Group G encounter, and was thrilled to be given the chance to prove his worth at the highest level.

"If you are a young player at this club it makes you happy to be given your chance in a big match like this," Rafinha told the UEFA website.

"Okay, the club had already qualified but every Champions League match is important and it's an immense feeling, marvellous, even to be part of it.

"Unforgettable and still more incredible to do so beside my brother, Thiago (Alcantara). This is a strong side we have."

Rafinha made his official first-team debut last season, but has mainly been playing with Barcelona B so far this term.

Info

Barcelona

W W W W W

0 - 0

Benfica

L W L L D

Competition: UEFA Champions League
Date: 5 December 2012
Game week: 6
Kick-off: 20:45

Half-time: 0 - 0
Full-time: 0 - 0

Venue: Camp Nou (Barcelona)
Attendance: 50659

Lineups

#	Player	Bookings
13	Pinto
5	Puyol
21	Adriano Correia	60'
29	Planas
19	Martín Montoya
25	A. Song
11	Thiago Alcântara
28	Sergi Roberto
30	Rafael Alcântara	49'
7	David Villa
37	Tello
Coach: Tito Vilanova

#	Player	Bookings
1	Artur Moraes
4	Luisão	59'
24	E. Garay	56'
14	M. Pereira
25	L. Melgarejo
21	N. Matić	78'
9	Nolito	43'
89	André Gomes
11	Lima
15	O. John
19	Rodrigo
Coach: Jorge Jesus

Substitutes

#	Player	Bookings
10	L. Messi for Rafael Alcântara 58'
3	Piqué for Adriano Correia 66'
27	Gerard Deulofeu for Tello 79'
1	Víctor Valdés
12	J. dos Santos
16	Busquets
26	Sergio Gómez

#	Player	Bookings
8	Bruno César for Nolito 63'
7	O. Cardozo for Lima 74'
34	André Almeida for Rodrigo 74'
5	Luisinho
13	Paulo Lopes
20	N. Gaitán
33	Jardel

Wednesday 19 June

17:57	Bowen excited by Stoke challenge
17:39	Gaitan happy at Benfica, insists agent
17:35	Malaga want big money for Isco
17:33	Mourinho wary of Hull City test
17:25	Sagna committed to Arsenal
17:06	Kirchhoff relishing Bayern challenge
17:04	Lichaj signs on at Forest
16:57	Crystal Palace hope United will allow Zaha back
16:48	Puyol undergoes knee surgery
16:46	Schuster proud to take reins at Malaga
16:32	Carlton Cole spoilt for choice after West Ham release
16:24	Tolstykh: Capello will not join PSG
16:20	Lallana excited by Saints fixtures
16:18	Clarke pleased with Southampton opener
15:52	Prandelli urges Balotelli to change his ways
15:39	Van Geel: Immers to stay at Feyenoord
15:29	West Ham complete Carroll capture
15:28	Hearts placed in administration
15:10	Donati to hold Inter talks
14:53	Mertens close to Napoli move
14:34	Neville: Pre-season is the time to impress Moyes
14:10	Carragher: Liverpool will do business quickly
13:51	Palermo appoint Gattuso
13:49	Martinez: Let´s build on last season
13:37	Fabregas: Real would be foolish to spend £100 million on Bale
13:32	Sunderland make Vydra loan bid
12:29	Baldini appointed as Tottenham technical director
11:52	FA Cup final given end-of-season billing
10:47	Coyle´s Wigan tenure begins at Barnsley
10:16	Celtic to start with Ross County test
10:03	Pique advises Thiago to stay at Barcelona
10:00	Llambias resigns but Pardew vows to stay on
09:54	Lampard targets third World Cup
09:48	Zorc: De Bruyne is interested in Dortmund move
06:32	FIFA World Cup Qualifying Wrap: United States stay in charge
05:09	Neill, Schwarzer in the shop window
04:31	Osieck vindicated by super-sub Kennedy
04:06	Puyol set for further surgery
03:46	Ribery, Benzema trial adjourned
03:11	Bielsa, Santos talks fall through
02:55	Vilanova rues easy title run-in
02:36	Del Bosque defends Casillas´ inclusion
00:19	Lens leaves PSV for Dynamo Kiev

Tuesday 18 June

23:43	FIFA Confederations Cup Preview: Spain v Tahiti
22:55	FIFA World Cup Qualifying Wrap: Australia, Iran, South Korea qualify
20:58	Carroll passes West Ham medical
13:08	Maher agent denies Ajax deal
13:05	Newcastle confirm Kinnear appointment
12:49	Taylor ´really happy´ with Kinnear return
12:44	Australia 1-0 Iraq: Kennedy books Brazil place
12:25	Clarke happy with Reid commitment
12:03	Bittencourt signs for Hannover
11:22	Van Dijk keen on Celtic move
11:15	De Gea sets the bar high
10:58	Confederations Cup Preview: Nigeria v Uruguay
10:58	Bacuna keen to get going at Villa
10:47	Hamburg a possibility for Santa Cruz
10:29	Rebelo: Protests will not harm Confederations Cup
10:27	Kinnear: We need another striker
07:48	Brazil-Mexico Preview: Selecao gunning for semi-final berth
03:41	Valcke: Brazil better for football tournaments
01:38	Tahiti trump Nigeria in celebration stakes

Monday 17 June

23:55	FIFA Confederations Cup Preview: Italy v Japan
23:12	FIFA Confederations Cup: Nigeria 6 Tahiti 1
21:13	Borini´s Napoli move unlikely
21:09	Remon: Zidane not ready for Real job
20:39	Elyounoussi says yes to Hoffenheim
20:37	Mignolet agent anticipating bids
20:35	Schalke signs Clemens
20:00	Italy-Japan Preview: Azzurri aiming to move closer to last four with victory
19:36	Sidwell looking for settled squad at Fulham
19:20	Hearts set to enter administration
19:16	Martinez hoping to bring ´characters´ to Everton
18:53	Scholes sad to see Robinson leave Stoke
18:36	Bayern, Barca in hunt for Koscielny
18:35	Toulouse deny Lyon approach for Tabanou
17:59	Vitoria pleased with ´dream´ Benfica move
17:43	Poyet refuses to attend hearing
17:33	UEFA Under 21 Championship Final Preview: Italy v Spain
17:23	Van Dijk attracting foreign interest
17:17	FIFA Confederations Cup Preview: Brazil v Mexico
16:54	Brentford confirm signing of Bidwell from Everton
16:20	Lambert says Lowton can still improve
16:14	Owen not ready to become a manager
16:11	Rangel praises Michu impact
15:52	Gundogan pledges future to Dortmund
15:45	Tevez refuses to be drawn on speculation
15:32	Mourinho: Chelsea need stability
14:33	Reid remains at West Brom after agreeing new deal
13:22	Tahiti 1-6 Nigeria: Oduamadi hits hat-trick as Super Eagles smash South Pacific islanders
13:11	Dortmund confirm Lewandowski stay
12:57	Hull sign Figueroa
12:55	Colombia Primera Division Wrap: Santa Fe held as Pasto, Millonarios win
11:59	Liverpool appoint new chief financial officer
11:47	Isco reveals offers from Real and City
11:09	Bradford to start Capital One Cup campaign at Huddersfield
10:09	Kinnear: Cabaye will stay at Newcastle
07:20	Peru Primera Division Wrap: Cesar Vallejo up to fourth
07:19	Paraguay Division Profesional Wrap: Nacional Asuncion beaten after securing title
06:47	Argentina Primera Division Wrap: Blanco brace fires Lanus
03:53	Ecuador Primera A Wrap: Independiente held despite Guerrero stunner
03:07	Del Bosque satisfied with Spain´s Cup opener
01:53	FIFA Confederations Cup: Spain 2 Uruguay 1
01:39	Prandelli undeterred by plucky Mexico
00:17	FIFA World Cup Qualifying Wrap: Ethopia, Egypt top groups

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