After just over a month of 'break', FC Barcelona will once again see action in the top competition at club level. The Blaugranas return to the Champions League to face Benfica at the Estádio da Luz for the first leg of the round of 16 of the tournament, aiming for a key victory that will allow them to make a statement in the tie and lay the first stone on their way to the sixth 'Orejona'.
The team led by Hansi Flick arrives at the duel against the Lisbon team in a state of grace, remaining undefeated this 2025 with a balance of 12 wins and 3 draws in the 15 matches they have played this year. The Catalans are already the sole leaders of La Liga and are well positioned to secure a place in the Copa del Rey final, so the feeling is unbeatable ahead of this Wednesday's clash.
Bruno Lage's men, on the other hand, are on the rise and have not lost in their last 8 games, accumulating 7 wins and just 1 draw. The Portuguese dream of springing a surprise and achieving a victory that, in addition to allowing them to travel to Montjuïc with a favourable overall scoreline, serves as 'revenge' after the painful defeat suffered at home in the league phase of the championship, where the Catalans took the three points with a comeback to remember (4-5).
The history invites Barça to get excited
The history between Barça and Benfica dates back to the beginning of the Champions League. In fact, the first 'Orejona' won by the Lisbon team in the 1960/1961 season was achieved after defeating the culé team of Kubala and Luis Suárez, and their clashes have always been full of emotions and surprises.
Both teams have met a total of 10 times in the European competition, with a favourable record for the Barcelona team of 4 wins and 4 draws, compared to 2 triumphs for the 'eagles'. At the Estádio da Luz, meanwhile, the balance is more equal, since the culés have achieved 2 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat. In total, the Catalans have scored 13 goals and have received 13 in these clashes.
The only precedent in knockout ties is also favourable to the Blaugranas. The two clubs met again in 2005/06, this time in the quarter-finals. Barça salvaged a draw in the first leg in Lisbon (0-0) and then won at Camp Nou (2-0) thanks to goals from Ronaldinho and Eto'o. The team ended up lifting that 'Orejona' in Paris against Arsenal (2-1).
On the other hand, the immediate precedent, although exciting for the culés, also alerts them to the possible risks existing on Lisbon soil. Hansi Flick's men faced Bruno Lage's men in the 7th round of the league phase of the current edition of the tournament, achieving a hard-fought, but historic, victory.
With 13 minutes to go in the match, the Blaugranas were down on the scoreboard, but goals from Lewandowski, Eric García and Raphinha at 90+6 ended up completing a legendary comeback. This Wednesday, the Catalans hope to relive what they achieved on that occasion.
Hansi Flick will go with his 'gala eleven' in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16
Gavi gave a scare in the run-up to the match against Benfica. The Andalusian did not train with his teammates last Monday because a fever prevented him from dressing up. This setback in the player's health had already prevented him from adding minutes in the thrashing of Real Sociedad on matchday 26 of LaLiga, so his participation in the first leg of the round of 16 was in doubt.
However, the midfielder seems to have recovered in time and has traveled with the group to Lisbon after Hansi Flick included him in the squad list. In fact, the '6' culé has many options to be a starter at the Estádio da Luz, since Dani Olmo accumulates many minutes in his legs and the club wants to be cautious since he has just come out of a couple of complicated injuries.
Aside from this question, the Barça coach seems to have a fairly clear eleven for the clash against the 'eagles'. Everything indicates that Iñigo Martínez will once again be a starter alongside Pau Cubarsí, while Alejandro Balde will return to left back after resting last Sunday.
Likewise, Frenkie de Jong would regain his starting position as a pivot and would accompany Pedri and Gavi in ??midfield. In attack, finally, no changes are expected, with the 'LRL' looking to have another historic night in the European competition.
Benfica arrives very conditioned to the first leg of the round of 16
While the Catalans visit Lisbon with 'all the irons', Benfica arrives at the match under minimum. The Lisbon team has up to five injured in its squad, with two of these losses being very painful. Both Ángel Di María and Florentino Luis, two undisputed players in Bruno Lage's eleven, suffered muscle injuries, which prevent them from being present against the Catalans.
As if that were not enough, the Portuguese team will face the match with a large number of players on the sidelines. In addition to the injured Bah, left-back Álvaro Carreras, centre-back Nicolás Otamendi, midfielders Orkun Kökçü and Fredrik Aursnes and striker Zeki Amdouni are on the verge of suspension from the Champions League and if they receive a yellow card in the match at Da Luz they will not be available for the return leg at Montjuïc, which is why the margin for error is minimal.
Barça are looking for a victory to put them on track for a place in the quarter-finals
FC Barcelona will be looking to repeat the result achieved in the league phase match and leave Lisbon with a victory in their pocket, but it will not be an easy task. Benfica are in a positive state of form for the match, with 7 wins and just 1 draw in their last 8 games, placing them second in the domestic competition table, three points behind Sporting CP, albeit with one game less, and eliminating Monaco in the Champions League playoffs to secure their ticket to the round of 16.
In the tie against the Monegasques, Bruno Lage's men suffered more than expected to qualify. The Portuguese took the lead in the Principality thanks to a goal from Vangelis Pavlidis (0-1), but only managed a draw at home (3-3) in a dramatic match. Orkun Kökçü's goal in the 84th minute sealed the qualification of the 'eagles'.
However, the spectacular form of the Blaugranas invites us to hope for a victory that could be transcendental in their search for the sixth 'Orejona'. In the 15 games played so far this year, the Catalans have won 12 and drawn 3, scoring 52 goals in these matches to reach 124 for the entire season and only conceding 16. The sensations on the pitch are unbeatable and the team knows it is far superior to its rivals, so optimism is at its maximum.
So, next Wednesday, at 9:00 p.m., at the Estádio da Luz, two of the clubs with the most history in the continental competition will measure forces once again with a clear objective on the horizon, so the duel promises to be not suitable for the faint of heart. Will Benfica manage to get its revenge or will Barcelona be the one to strike first? The answer, on the pitch.
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