Barcelona take a 1-0 benefit into the second leg of their Champions League spherical of 16 tie towards Benfica on Tuesday night time.
After edging a nine-goal thriller in Lisbon in the course of the league part, only a single strike separated the 2 sides final week after Pau Cubarsi was despatched off within the first half. Hansi Flick’s guests had been pressured to defend slightly deeper in a bid to maintain the hosts at arm’s size, and their measured defensive show set the stage for an spectacular victory.
Raphinha as soon as once more got here up trumps for La Blaugrana as his very good end from distance proved to be the match-winner.
Flick’s facet additionally weren’t in home motion on the weekend as a result of passing of membership physician Carles Minarro Garcia handed away within the build-up to Saturday’s recreation towards Osasuna, ensuing within the contest’s postponement.
Benfica, off the again of their first leg defeat at house, returned to successful methods on Saturday as they beat Nacional 3-0 within the Primeira Liga. Bruno Lage’s facet are nonetheless chasing Sporting CP on the summit, with their deficit now simply three factors having performed a recreation much less.
Right here is 90min’s information to Tuesday’s second leg in Catalonia.
Barcelona vs Benfica head-to-head document (final 5 video games)
Present type (all competitions)
|
Barcelona |
Benfica |
|---|---|
|
Benfica 0-1 Barcelona – 05/03/25 |
Benfica 3-0 Nacional – 08/03/25 |
|
Barcelona 4-0 Actual Sociedad – 02/03/25 |
Benfica 0-1 Barcelona – 05/03/25 |
|
Barcelona 4-4 Atletico Madrid – 25/02/25 |
Benfica 1-0 Braga – 26/02/25 |
|
Las Palmas 0-2 Barcelona – 22/02/25 |
Benfica 3-0 Boavista – 22/02/25 |
|
Barcelona 1-0 Rayo Vallecano – 17/02/25 |
Benfica 3-3 Monaco – 18/02/25 |
|
Nation |
TV channel/dwell stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
discovery+, discovery+ App, TNT Sports activities 1 |
|
United States |
Paramount+, TUDN.com, Univision NOW, TUDN App, TUDN USA, UniMás |
|
Canada |
DAZN Canada |
Flick was able to relaxation and rotate for Saturday’s recreation earlier than its postponement, with Robert Lewandowski absent from the squad totally resulting from fatigue. Nevertheless, the veteran ahead is predicted to be again within the beginning XI on Tuesday night time.
Barcelona are with out the suspended Pau Cubarsi after his crimson card in Lisbon, which means Ronald Araujo is a shoo-in to start out alongside Inigo Martinez. Andreas Christensen can also be out injured.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Marc Bernal stay sidelined for the hosts, however Gavi has recovered from an sickness and can play an element within the second leg.
Barcelona predicted lineup vs Benfica (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, Martinez, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski.
Extremely-regarded left-back Alvaro Fernandez misses out by means of suspension. The younger Spaniard picked up his third yellow card of the competitors within the first leg.
On the damage entrance, Benfica are with out Alexander Bah and Manu Silva resulting from ACL tears, whereas Tiago Gouveia has been out for some time with a shoulder damage.
Angel Di Maria appears to be like set to overlook out once more and Benfica can’t name upon winter arrival Bruma, who’s began Benfica’s 4 earlier league video games, as he wasn’t included of their Champions League squad after becoming a member of the membership.
Benfica predicted lineup vs Barcelona (4-3-3): Trubin; Santos, Silva, Otamendi, Dahl; Aursnes, Barreiro, Kokcu; Akturkoglu, Schjelderup, Pavlidis.
The second leg arrives in troublesome circumstances for Barcelona, however they’re a crew in glorious type. Final week’s win in Lisbon means they’re now 16 video games unbeaten, and, bodily, Flick’s facet will profit from having Saturday’s recreation postponed.
Benfica had been capable of create possibilities final week and Barca required a classic Wojciech Szczesny efficiency to maintain a clear sheet. Anticipate the guests to have some pleasure on Tuesday given the profiles they’ve of their frontline, however they will want a mini-miracle to advance into the final eight.
The hosts merely have far an excessive amount of expertise in assault to comprise, and Benfica’s Champions League journey is ready to return to a somewhat tame finish this week.
