Ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash, we have the Benfica vs Barcelona preview, prediction, team news and predicted line-ups.
Benfica Vs Barcelona Preview
Barcelona will aim to record their sixth Champions League victory in seven matches this season when they take on Portuguese giants Benfica in Lisbon on Tuesday night.
Hansi Flick’s side are second in the standings and are on the verge of securing a last-16 spot by finishing in the top-eight.
This compares to their LaLiga form which has seen them drop seven points off leaders Real Madrid into third.
It could go either way for Benfica who are 15th in the Champions League table with 10 points from their six matches in the league phase.
They would likely need to win both of their remaining games to make the last-16 and avoid the play-offs.
However, they are only three points clear of Paris Saint-Germain who are the first team sitting in the danger zone facing European elimination.
Benfica have won two of their previous nine matches against Barcelona, including the final of the 1961 European Cup.
However, they have already impressed against Spanish opposition this season – beating Atletico Madrid 4-0 on matchday two.
Barcelona’s Ruthless UCL Form To Continue?
It has been a mixed season for Barcelona with success in Europe and against Real Madrid, but have dropped off in the league.
Barcelona have beat Real Madrid 4-0 and 5-2 this season in domestic competitions. However, two matches after their recent Spanish Super Cup triumph over Los Blancos, they dropped more points in the league with a 1-1 draw with Getafe.
They have failed to win any of their last four LaLiga matches, yet in the Champions League they haven’t lost since the opening matchday to Monaco.
Since then, the Spanish giants have beaten Young Boys, Bayern Munich, Red Star and Brest and Borussia Dortmund by an aggregate score of 20-5.
Ahead of the match at the time of writing, the best football betting sites in the UK make Barca the 19/20 favourites, Benfica can be backed at 12/5 with the draw 31/10.
Team News
Benfica will be without both Tiago Couveia and Renato Sanches through injury. Angel Di Maria – who has 20 goal contributions in 27 games this season – is also a major doubt.
As for Barcelona, Dani Olmo is a fresh injury blow for the Catalan side after suffering a muscular problem against Getafe.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marc Bernal and Inigo Martinez are also absent for the game in Portugal.
There were concerns over Marc Casado after the draw with Getafe. However, his substitution in that match was tactical.
Flick could name an unchanged side for this contest despite their disappointing draw with Getafe.
Benfica Vs Barcelona Confirmed Lineups
Benfica: Trubin; Bah, Araujo, Otamendi, Fernandez; Aursnes, Florentino, Kokcu; Amdouni, Pavlidis, Akturkoglu
Barcelona: Inaki Pena; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Pedri, Casado, Gavi; Yamal, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Benfica Vs Barcelona Prediction
Benfica, as shown by their 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid earlier this season, are an awkward side to face away from home. Barcelona have a strong shout of qualifying for the last-16, while Benfica’s place in the Champions League is not ensured.
So while the Portuguese side will give Barcelona a run for their money, the Spanish giants will have too much firepower for their opponents.
Prediction: Benfica 2-3 Barcelona
