Who: Benfica vs Barcelona
What: UEFA Champions League spherical of 16 first leg
The place: Estadio de Luz, Lisbon, Portugal
When: Wednesday, March 5 at 8pm (20:00 GMT)
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5-time winners Barcelona go to Lisbon to face Benfica on Wednesday within the first leg of their Champions League spherical of 16 tie.
Barca haven’t gained the competitors since 2015 however completed second within the group stage and are among the many favourites to carry the trophy.
Benfica have reached the ultimate on seven events however have solely lifted the trophy twice – in 1961 and 1962.
What’s Barca’s response to beneficial Champions League draw?
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick dismissed claims that his staff have an “simple” path to the Champions League ultimate, forward of their final 16 conflict towards Benfica.
Ought to the Spanish giants progress from the tie, they’ll face both Borussia Dortmund or Lille within the quarterfinals.
Actual Madrid, the report 15-time winners, in addition to Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are within the different half of the draw. Barcelona, who prime the Spanish league by some extent, may solely meet these sides in a possible ultimate.
“On this section, there’s no simple recreation – each staff deserves to be right here at this stage, and I feel Benfica too,” Flick advised reporters on Tuesday. “Benfica is a implausible staff [and] we play in a fantastic stadium and it’s actually a particular environment there.
“Their [fans] push the staff on lots, supporting them, and it is going to be actually robust tomorrow – exhausting work for us.”
The street to Munich 🏆#UCL pic.twitter.com/XxOXoJwUAD
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 4, 2025
Flick wouldn’t be drawn on who the match favourites are and which facet would pose probably the most menace to Barca’s hopes.
“At all times the following match. Benfica is for us the following troublesome opponent,” the German coach mentioned.
“It’s not good to [talk about] this stuff. We deal with the following match and the following match, and that’s a great way to do that.
“It all the time begins at 0-0, and it’s important to give every part… the opposite groups are doing rather well and so they all the time wish to win towards us.”
What occurred the final time Barca met Benfica?
Barcelona beat Benfica 5-4 in Lisbon in an exciting group-stage comeback.
Defender Pau Cubarsi mentioned his staff needed to focus extra to cease the Portuguese facet, for whom Vangelis Pavlidis scored a 30-minute hat-trick.
“It was sophisticated… we gave up numerous probabilities. We’ve got to attempt to not concede targets,” mentioned Cubarsi, who made his Barcelona debut in January 2024 and has quickly grow to be a key determine.
“We’ve got to know methods to handle video games… this can be a two-legged tie and we’ve to provide every part from the beginning,” continued the 18-year-old.
“Annually, Barca needs to be competing for every part. For me, we’re the most effective membership on this planet. This 12 months, folks say we’ve the most effective pathway within the match, however I don’t see it like that.”
What’s Benfica tackle the Barca take a look at?
Benfica supervisor Bruno Lage, whose facet are second within the Portuguese league, advised followers to brace for extra pleasure on Wednesday following the nine-goal thriller within the league section.
Lage mentioned Benfica, who misplaced the final assembly to a stoppage time Raphinha strike, will keep true to their identification of attacking soccer after they host Barca, and that he expects the Spanish giants to do the identical.
“I can’t predict what number of targets shall be scored within the recreation, however I can predict a fantastic recreation of soccer as a result of they’re two groups with an eye fixed for assault,” Lage advised a information convention on Tuesday.
“I feel it’s going to be a tricky match and we’ll exit for the win. Positive, tomorrow’s consequence shall be vital, however the results of the second leg shall be extra decisive.
“We’re going up towards a fantastic staff who rating numerous targets however we’re additionally trying on the constructive issues we’ve performed towards this opponent: the variety of probabilities we’ve had, the variety of instances we’ve been in entrance of the goalkeeper… we consider we are able to get by means of this tie.”
Benfica supporters desire a completely different final result to that late-January rip-roaring encounter at Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz through which Barcelona fought again from two targets all the way down to win.
“We are going to attempt to discover the areas our rivals provide us as a result of they typically do,” Lage added. We’ve got to know methods to reap the benefits of the areas that Barcelona will give us – that needs to be the important thing.”
👥 𝗦𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗗 𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧! #BenficaBarça pic.twitter.com/RaK1e0Xe8y
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 4, 2025
Barcelona staff information
Barcelona midfielder Gavi is a doubt for Wednesday’s Champions League conflict.
Gavi, who featured in Barcelona’s thrilling 5-4 win at Benfica, was on the bench of their final two league video games and missed a coaching session as a result of sickness.
“We are going to see. Yesterday, he didn’t practice as he didn’t really feel so good. He’ll go to the physician once more, we’ve to attend,” Flick mentioned.
The 20-year-old has performed 24 video games this season, registering two targets and three assists since getting back from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) damage.
Benfica staff information
Lage confirmed that attacking midfielder Angel Di Maria and midfielder Florentino will miss Wednesday’s recreation as they get better however sounded optimistic that winger Renato Sanches needs to be prepared.
“A very powerful factor is for the staff to operate as a staff, as an entire, no matter who performs,” Lage mentioned.
Head-to-head
The 2 European giants have surprisingly solely met on 10 events.
Barca have gained 4 of these, together with the victory this season, whereas Benfica have solely gained twice.
The final of these victories was a 3-0 dwelling win within the previous group stage in 2021. The return leg that season was a goalless draw at Neu Camp – the final time the golf equipment met till this season.
The opposite Benfica win was the primary assembly between the 2 golf equipment and got here within the ultimate in 1961 with the Portuguese membership lifting the trophy after a 3-2 win in Bern, Switzerland.
As 📸 da preparação para o #SLBFCB! 🌡#UCL pic.twitter.com/DZ3orNLNZI
— SL Benfica (@SLBenfica) March 4, 2025
