Champions League: Benfica vs. Barcelona Picks — Visitors to Secure First Leg Advantage? (Mar 5)

Barcelona will be bidding to keep alive their hopes of Champions League success this season when they clash with Benfica in the round of 16.

The Portuguese hosts needed their fair share of luck in the playoff round, but they eventually overcame AS Monaco in dramatic fashion.

Barcelona will be heavily preferred to reach the next round of the competition this season, and they have already recorded a win at the Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica this season.

Odds

Barcelona Chasing Second Win Against Benfica in 2024-25

Benfica and Barcelona will be colliding for the second time in the Champions League this season.

The first meeting in 2024-25 was a hugely dramatic affair, with Barcelona eventually coming through with a stunning 5-4 victory in Lisbon. Benfica have won just two of their last 12 home matches against Spanish clubs.

Benfica vs. Barcelona Key Stats

• Barcelona have suffered just one defeat in their last ten away matches against Portuguese sides in European competition.
• Benfica’s ten UCL matches this season have seen 35 goals scored; 20 for and 15 against.

Benfica Team News

Angel Di Maria is expected to miss out due to a muscle issue this week. Manu Silva, Alexander Bah, and Tiago Gouveia are all missing for this first leg.

Possible Lineup

A. Trubin (GK); T. Araujo, A. Silva, N. Otamendi, A. Carreras, F. Aursnes, L. Barreiro, O. Kokcu, M. Akturkoglu, E. Pavlidis, A. Schjelderup

Barcelona Team News

Hansi Flick has welcomed back a number of first-team stars from injury across recent weeks. However, Marc ter Stegen and Marc Bernal remain out due to major knee injuries.

Possible Lineup

W. Szczesny (GK); J. Kounde, R. Araujo, P. Cubarsi, A. Balde, M. Casado, L. Yamal, D. Olmo, Pedri, Raphinha, R. Lewandowski

Benfica vs. Barcelona Picks

The fact that Benfica have allowed 15 goals across their ten Champions League matches this season is a major concern ahead of the visit of one of the strongest attacks in Europe.

Barcelona have already smashed five past Benfica this term, and a more comfortable outing could be likely in Lisbon on Wednesday.