Barcelona journey to Lisbon for the second time within the house of six weeks as they face Benfica within the Champions League spherical of 16.
Barcelona’s barnstorming 5-4 victory throughout the Iberian Peninsula in January helped them safe a second place end within the league section which meant they prevented the play-off spherical. Benfica, quite the opposite, had been pressured to endure two further video games and got a scare by Ligue 1 Monaco regardless of profitable the away leg 1-0.
The hosts have had loads of day off provided that their latest Primeira Liga duel with Gli Vicente was postponed. They had been final in motion on February 26 after they beat Braga 1-0.
Barcelona did not take pleasure in such a luxurious on the weekend, however they did produce an emphatic 4-0 victory over Actual Sociedad which ensured they remained on the summit of La Liga. Hansi Flick’s aspect stuttered in direction of the top of 2024, however they’re unbeaten in 2025 and seem one of many strongest contenders to go all the way in which on this competitors.
Right here is 90min’s information to Barcelona’s journey to Benfica within the Champions League spherical of 16.
Benfica vs Barcelona head-to-head report (final 5 video games)
Present type (all competitions)
Benfica |
Barcelona |
---|---|
Benfica 1-0 Braga – 26/02/25 |
Barcelona 4-0 Actual Sociedad – 02/03/25 |
Benfica 3-0 Boavista – 22/02/25 |
Barcelona 4-4 Atletico Madrid – 25/02/25 |
Benfica 3-3 Monaco – 18/02/25 |
Las Palmas 0-2 Barcelona – 22/2/25 |
Santa Clara 0-1 Benfica – 15/02/25 |
Barcelona 1-0 Rayo Vallecano – 17/2/25 |
Monaco 0-1 Benfica – 12/02/25 |
Sevilla 1-4 Barcelona – 9/2/25 |
Nation |
TV channel/dwell stream |
---|---|
United Kingdom |
discovery+, discovery+ App, TNT Sports activities 3 |
United States |
Paramount+, TUDN.com, Univision NOW, TUDN App, TUDN USA, UniMás |
Canada |
DAZN Canada |
The hosts are with out a few notable names via harm on Wednesday evening. Former Actual Madrid winger Angel Di Maria misses out with a hamstring concern, whereas Florentino Luis can be sidelined.
Alexander Bah and and Manu Silva are out for the season after tearing their ACLs in the identical recreation final month. Tiago Gouveia continues to nurse a shoulder harm.
Vangelis Pavlidis is in red-hot scoring type and scored a hat-trick within the earlier assembly between the 2 golf equipment. He’ll be beginning up high for Benfica in Lisbon.
Benfica predicted lineup vs Barcelona (4-3-3): Trubin; Araujo, Silva, Otamendi, Carreras; Aursnes, Barreiro, Kokcu; Akturkoglu, Pavlidis, Schjelderup.
It has been a irritating marketing campaign for Andreas Christensen, and the previous Chelsea defender is ready for an additional spell on the sidelines resulting from a muscle harm. He isn’t anticipated again till April on the earliest.
Ronald Araujo was on the scoresheet on the weekend however may drop out of the beginning XI in Lisbon on Wednesday. Flick appears to desire the centre-back partnership of Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez. Araujo additionally scored an personal objective on his earlier go to to the Portuguese capital.
Marc Bernal and Marc-Andre ter Stegen stay sidelined for the guests, however there’s hope Gavi will shake off an sickness in time to function.
Barcelona predicted lineup vs Benfica (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski.
These two groups have set the bar extremely excessive given what they produced throughout the league section. A late Raphinha strike on the break sealed a outstanding 5-4 victory for Barca.
Barca’s spectacular run of type continued on the weekend, and whereas there could also be just a few issues over potential participant burnout in a while this time period, the Catalonians presently look recent. Their superstars are purring and Benfica have little likelihood of slowing them down.
The guests will probably give up possibilities to the in-form Pavlidis, who’s wonderful at working in behind, however Barca will certainly make a concerted effort to make sure he does not run riot. Anticipate targets on Wednesday in a extra comfy Barca win.