Barcelona receives a 1-0 advantage in the second leg of the Champions League 16 round with Benfica on Tuesday night.
After a thriller of nine goals in Lisbon during the championship phase, only one strike was separated both sides last week after Pau Cubarsi’s mission in the first half. Visitors to Hansi Flick were forced to defend a little deeper in an attempt to keep the hosts along the arm and their measured defensive appearance set the stage for a one impressive victory.
Raphinha once again came the trump for La Blaugrana, as his magnificent ending from the distance proved to be the winner of the race.
Flick’s side was also not in domestic action on the weekend due to MORE OF THE BEST KARIA KALLIA MISSAR GARTIA He died in the accumulation on Saturday’s game against Osasuna, resulting in postponement of the competition.
Benfica, from the back of the first defeat at home, returned to victorious ways on Saturday as they beat Nacional 3-0 in Primeira Liga. The Bruno Lage side is still chasing the Sporting CP at the summit, with their deficit now only three points having played a less game.
See 90 minutes Guide to Tuesday’s second leg in Catalonia.
Barcelona vs. Benfica Head-To-Head Record (last five games)
Current form (all contests)
|
Barcelona |
Beef |
|---|---|
|
Benfica 0-1 Barcelona – 03/05/25 |
Benfica 3-0 Nacional – 08/03/25 |
|
Barcelona 4-0 Real Sociedad – 03/02/25 |
Benfica 0-1 Barcelona – 03/05/25 |
|
Barcelona 4-4 Atletico Madrid – 25/02/25 |
Benfica 1-0 Braga – 26/02/25 |
|
Las Palmas 0-2 Barcelona – 02/22/25 |
Benfica 3-0 Boavista – 22/02/25 |
|
Barcelona 1-0 Ray Vallecano – 02/17/25 |
Benfica 3-3 Monaco – 18/02/25 |
|
Country |
TV channel/live flow |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
Discovery+, Discovery+ App, TNT Sports 1 |
|
United States |
Paramount+, Tudn.com, Univision Now, App Tudn, Tudn USA, Unimás |
|
Canada |
Dazn Canada |
Flick was ready to rest and revolve for Saturday’s game before postponing, with Robert Lewandowski absent from the team completely due to fatigue. However, the veteran is expected to return to the original XI on Tuesday night.
Barcelona is without the suspension of Pau Cubarsi after his red card in Lisbon, which means that Ronald Araujo is a shoo-in to start along with Inigo Martinez. Andreas Christensen has also been injured.
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and Marc Bernal remain neglected for the hosts, but Gavi has recovered from a disease and will play a role in the second leg.
Barcelona predicted the composition against Benfica (4-2-3-1): Szczesny? Kounde, Araujo, Martinez, Balde. De Jong, Pedri. Yamal, Olmo, Raphainha. Lewandowski.
The extremely considered left-back Alvaro Fernandez loses through the suspension. The young Spaniard took the third yellow card of the competition in the first leg.
In the injury front, Benfica is not without Alexander Bach and Manu Silva due to ACL tears, while Tiago Gouveia has briefly got out with shoulder injury.
Angel Di Maria seems to lose again and Benfica cannot call the winter arrival of Bruma, who began Benfica’s four previous games, as he was not included in the Champions League team after joining the club.
Benfica predicted the composition against Barcelona (4-3-3): Trubin? Santos, Silva, Otamendi, Dahl. Aursnes, Barreiro, Kokcu. Action Stream, Schjelderup, Pavlid.
The second leg reaches difficult conditions for Barcelona, ​​but it is an excellent team. Last week’s victory in Lisbon means that there are now 16 games of undefeated and, of course, the flick side will benefit from postponing Saturday’s game.
Benfica was able to create chances last week and Barca required a vintage wojciech szzesny performance to keep a clean sheet. Expect guests to have some joy on Tuesday, as they have the profiles on their first line, but they will need a mini miracle to move on to the last eight.
The hosts just have too much talent in attack to contain, and Benfica’s Champions League Journey is going to reach a rather plum this week.
