Match Preview : Benfica VS Barça- UEFA Champions League

It’s a quick turn around of games this month, and as the games come thick and fat,we now move into another cup competition. It’s the return of the UEFA Champions League, nearing the end of the league phase now with only a couple of games left to play.

We’ve been tested a lot so far in this competition, not only playing some big teams but going to some of Europe’s most hostile atmospheres too. And tonight is no different. From 9pm local time, live from Lisbon, it’s Barcelona up against Benfica. Yet another huge test for this Barca side, in another iconic and fierce atmosphere too. Let’s jump straight into the preview!

A Quick Look at our opponent:

When it comes to Benfica, they’re one of Europe’s most iconic and historic teams. Portugal’s fiercest power, up there alongside the likes of porto and Sporting Lisbon.

Some of the world’s best players have passed through their over the years, and some of the games most expensive players have also been at Benfica at one time during their career. Probably one of their most famous is the Argentine superstar Angel Di Maria. Who, after a great career across Europe, has now returned to the club that brought him in from Argentina in his youth.

They’re a talented squad of players with a lot of experience too, including another Argentine World Cup winnner in Nicolas Otamendi. They’re currently sitting 2nd in their respective domestic league, only 3 points behind the leaders Sporting Lisbon. They’re strong not only going forward, with 42 goals in the league. But also hard to beat at the back, only conceding 11 goals all season.

When compared to Barça, we’ve scored a total of 52 goals and have let in just over double the amount of Benfica, with 23 goals against. It’s going to be a very tricky game to navigate tonight for this young Barca side. In yet anther very hostile environment, but we’ve had games like this already. We’ve got the experience. We just have to draw on that for tonight’s very difficult to judge game.

Predicted lineup:

As for the lineup, even despite our last league game only coming 3 days ago, i still think we will go very strong in this one. Sadly we can’t rely on the services of Dani Olmo, as he’s suffered yet another injury. So hell be out for just under 2 weeks. So I’d imagine the midfield will be the same as what was put out against Getafe.

Maybe Gavi might get a rest with Fermin Lopez coming in as his replacement. But apart from that, i doubt there will be many more changes in the starting lineup. Frenkie had a good cameo against Getafe, so possibly he could come in for Casado to give him a rest. But I doubt that will happen to be honest.

So i think the lineup pretty much picks itself. Scezney could get in between the sticks again, with reports stating Flick has chosen him as his goalkeeper for the Champions League, with Peña starting in La liga. Let’s wait and see if that turns out to be true.