Barcelona will be looking to notch their sixth Champions League win in seven games this season when they face Portuguese giants Benfica in Lisbon on Tuesday night.
Hansi Flick’s side currently sit second in the Champions League standings with 15 points from six games, while Benfica are 15th with 10 points, keeping their playoff hopes alive as the league phase nears its conclusion.
Benfica have had a mixed Champions League campaign so far, winning three, drawing one, and losing two of their six matches. Their 10 points place them 15th in the standings, enough to secure a playoff spot for now. However, with only three points separating them from eighth-placed Lille, a win against Barcelona could significantly boost their chances of securing an automatic spot in the top eight.
Bruno Lage’s side head into this clash on a high, riding a four-match winning streak, including a commanding 4-0 victory over Famalicão in the Primeira Liga on Friday. Domestically, Benfica sit second in the league table, three points behind leaders Sporting Lisbon.
Historically, Benfica have struggled against Barcelona, winning only two of their previous nine meetings, including their famous victory in the 1961 European Cup final. Their only other win came in the 2021-22 Champions League group stage, where they stunned Barça 3-0.
At home, Benfica have had a mixed record against Spanish clubs in Europe, winning four, drawing five, and losing five of 14 encounters. This season, however, they showed their strength with a 4-0 thrashing of Atlético Madrid on matchday two.
Barcelona may have recently lifted the Spanish Super Cup and advanced to the Copa del Rey quarter-finals, but their La Liga form has been concerning. The Catalans are enduring their worst domestic run in 17 years, winning just one of their last eight league matches. They currently sit third in the La Liga standings, seven points adrift of leaders Real Madrid.
Despite their domestic struggles, Barcelona have been strong in Europe, winning five of their six Champions League games so far. Their 15 points put them in second place, three behind leaders Liverpool and three clear of ninth-placed Borussia Dortmund.
However, the Blaugrana’s record in Portugal leaves room for improvement. They have won six, drawn three, and lost five of their previous 14 away games against Portuguese teams, with their only victory against Benfica coming in the 2012-13 group stage.
While Barcelona are well-positioned to advance to the knockout rounds, a poor result in Lisbon could make their final league phase match at home against Atalanta on January 29 a must-win encounter.
This clash in Lisbon promises high stakes for both sides, with Benfica fighting to stay in contention and Barcelona looking to secure their spot in the next round.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Benfica will be without Tiago Gouveia and Renato Sanches due to injuries, and Ángel Di María remains a major doubt for their clash with Barcelona. Di María’s potential absence is a significant blow, given his impressive record of 13 goals and seven assists in 27 appearances this season. However, there’s still a chance the Argentine might make the bench.
Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who has also been in fine form with 10 goals and seven assists, is expected to start, while Vangelis Pavlidis is likely to lead the attack for the hosts.
On Barcelona’s side, Dani Olmo is a fresh concern after picking up a muscle injury during their 1-1 draw with Getafe in La Liga on Saturday. Marc-André ter Stegen, Marc Bernal, and Iñigo Martínez are also unavailable for the trip to Portugal. However, there’s good news regarding Marc Casadó, whose substitution against Getafe was purely tactical, leaving him fit for selection.
Head coach Hansi Flick is expected to stick with the same lineup, with Gavi set to continue in the number 10 role. Ferran Torres and Frenkie de Jong are likely to remain on the bench for this encounter.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Benfica possible starting lineup:
Trubin; Bah, Araujo, Otamendi, Fernandez; Aursnes, Florentino, Kokcu; Amdouni, Pavlidis, Akturkoglu
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Pena; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Casado, Pedri; Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha; Lewandowski
EXPERT PREDICTION
Benfica 2-2 Barcelona
This is a tough match to predict. Barcelona have been outstanding in Europe this season, but Benfica are a quality side with the talent to trouble the Catalans. Either team could come away with a win on Tuesday, but it feels like this closely contested battle might ultimately end in a draw.
