Champions League: Benfica Faces Barcelona Again After 9-Goal Showdown
Click to start listening
Synopsis
On March 4, FC Barcelona will travel to Lisbon for their Champions League round of 16 first leg against Benfica, just six weeks after a thrilling 9-goal encounter. Both teams, former champions, are gearing up for another exciting clash.
Key Takeaways
- FC Barcelona visits Benfica for Champions League.
- Recent match saw Barcelona win 5-4 in thrilling fashion.
- Barcelona leads La Liga and is in top form.
- Benfica grapples with injury concerns ahead of the match.
- Expect a strategic game rather than an all-out attack.
Madrid (Spain), March 4 (NationPress) The renowned Spanish club FC Barcelona is set to travel to Lisbon on Wednesday for the initial leg of their Champions League round of 16 matchup against Benfica, marking yet another encounter between these two former champions.
This clash occurs just weeks after their thrilling group stage meeting, where Barcelona staged a remarkable comeback to secure a 5-4 victory, overcoming a 3-1 and 4-2 deficit in an unforgettable match. Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha each netted two goals, with Raphinha securing the win in the sixth minute of injury time after a spectacular sprint.
Since late January, Hansi Flick's team has regained its form in Spain, currently leading the league with a narrow one-point advantage over Atletico Madrid and three points ahead of Real Madrid, who will be competing in Europe on Tuesday night.
Barcelona recently achieved a dominant 4-0 victory against Real Sociedad at home on Sunday. The match was significantly affected when the visitors lost defender Aritz Elustondo to a red card in the 17th minute, as reported by Xinhua.
With the match under control, Flick substituted key players like Pau Cubarsi, Pedri, Raphinha, Dani Olmo, and Ronald Araujo, while central defender Inigo Martinez remained an unused substitute.
Most of these players, except perhaps Araujo, are expected to start on Wednesday, with Frenkie de Jong likely returning in central midfield to replace Marc Casado.
On the other hand, Benfica coach Bruno Lage faces a significant injury crisis, with Alexander Bah, Renato Sanches, Manu Silva, and Tiago Gouveia all unavailable. Additionally, veteran winger Angel Di Maria is dealing with a muscle issue that may also prevent him from playing.
Di Maria's absence will be felt, as his experience in crucial situations would greatly assist in overcoming Barcelona's high-pressure and offside tactics.
While the return leg is slated to take place in Barcelona next Tuesday, it's unlikely that Wednesday's match will replicate the offensive fireworks of their previous encounter. Nevertheless, Benfica has demonstrated the ability to score against Barcelona, and Flick has made it clear that he intends to maintain his current strategy.
