WHOs: Benfica vs Barcelona
What: UEFA Champions League rounds 16 games at first glance
Or: Estadio de Luz, Lisbon, Portugal
When: Wednesday March 5 at 8 p.m. (8 p.m. GMT)
Follow Al Jazeera Sport ‘S Live text and photo comments flow.
On Wednesday, the five -time winners visited Lisbon to face Benfica during the first leg of their Hold of the Champions League.
Barça has not won the competition since 2015, but finished second in the group phase and is among the favorites to raise the trophy.
Benfica reached the final seven times but only did the trophy twice – in 1961 and 1962.
What is Barça’s response to the favorable draw for the Champions League?
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick rejected the allegations that his team has an “easy” path to the Champions League final, before their last confrontation against Benfica.
If the Spanish giants are progressing from the tie, they will face Borussia Dortmund or Lille in the quarterfinals.
Real Madrid, the winners record 15 times, as well as Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are in the other half of the draw. Barcelona, which exceeds the Spanish League from one point, could only meet these teams in a potential final.
“In this phase, there is no easy game – each team deserves to be here at this stage, and I think Benfica too,” Flick told journalists on Tuesday. “Benfica is a fantastic team [and] We play in a large stadium and it is really a special atmosphere there.
“Their [fans] Push the team on many, support them, and it will be really difficult tomorrow – hard work for us. »»
The Munich road 🏆#Ucl pic.twitter.com/xxoxojwu
– UEFA Champions League (@championsleague) March 4, 2025
Flick would not be based on who are the favorites of the tournament and what side would be the most threat to the hopes of Barça.
“Still the next match. Benfica is the next difficult opponent for us, “said the German coach.
“It’s not good to [talk about] These things. We focus on the next game and the next game, and it’s a good way to do it.
“It always starts at 0-0, and you have to give everything … The other teams are doing very well and they always want to win against us.”
What happened the last time that Barca met Benfica?
Barcelona beat Benfica 5-4 in Lisbon in an exciting return of group groups.
Defender Pau Cubarsi said that his team had to focus more to stop the Portuguese side, for whom Vangelis Pavlidis marked a 30 -minute hat.
“It was complicated … We abandoned a lot of chance. We must try not to concede objectives, “said Cubarsi, who made his debut in Barcelona in January 2024 and quickly became a key figure.
“We must know how to manage the games … This is a two -legged tie and we have to give everything from the start,” continued the 18 -year -old.
“Each year, Barça should compete with everything. For me, we are the best club in the world. This year, people say that we have the best way to the tournament, but I don’t see it like that. »»
What is Benfica taking the Barça test?
Benfica manager Bruno Lage, whose team is second in the Portuguese League, told fans to prepare for more excitement on Wednesday following the thriller of nine goals in the league phase.
Lage said that Benfica, who lost the last meeting for a Raphinha Strike stop time, will remain faithful to their identity to attack football when they welcome Barça and expect the Spanish giants to do the same.
“I cannot predict how many goals will be scored in the match, but I can predict a big football game because they are two teams with an eye for attack,” Lage said at a press conference on Tuesday.
“I think it will be a difficult match and we will go out for the victory. Of course, the result of tomorrow will be important, but the result of the second step will be more decisive.
“We will face a large team that scores a lot of goals, but we also examine the positive things we have done against this opponent: the number of chances we have had, the number of times we have been in front of the goalkeeper … We think we can travel this link.”
Benfica supporters want a different result at this meeting from the end of January to the end of January at the Estadio Da Luz de Lisbon in which Barcelona retaliated by two goals to win.
“We will try to find the spaces that our rivals offer us because they often do it,” added Lage. We must know how to enjoy the spaces that Barcelona will give us – it should be the key. »»
👥 𝗦𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗗 𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧! # Benficabarça pic.twitter.com/rak1e0xe8y
– FC Barcelona (@FcBarcelona) March 4, 2025
Barcelona Team News
The midfielder of Barcelona Gavi is a doubt for the shock of the Champions League on Wednesday.
Gavi, who appeared in the fascinating victory of Barcelona 5-4 in Benfica, was on the bench in their last two championship games and missed a training session due to a disease.
“We will see. Yesterday he did not train because he did not feel so well. He will report on the doctor, we have to wait,” said Flick.
The 20 -year -old has played 24 games this season, recording two goals and three assists since his return from an injury to the previous cross ligament (LCA).
News from the Benfica team
Lage confirmed that the attacking midfielder Angel Di Maria and midfielder Florentino will miss the match on Wednesday as they recover, but seemed optimistic that the Sanches of the Renato winger should be ready.
“The most important thing is that the team works as a team, as a whole, no matter who plays,” said Lage.
Tête-à-tête
The two European giants have only been surprisingly met 10 times.
Barça won four, whose victory this season, while Benfica won only twice.
The last of these victories was a 3-0 home victory in the old group phase in 2021. The return leg this season was a draw at the Neu camp – the last time the clubs met until this season.
Benfica’s other victory was the first meeting between the two clubs and came to the final in 1961, the Portuguese club raised the trophy after a 3-2 victory in Bern, Switzerland.
Like 📸 da preparação para o #SLBFCB! 🌡#Ucl pic.twitter.com/dz3ornlnzi
– SL Benfica (@Slbenfica) March 4, 2025
