The day has arrived. FC Barcelona will be playing at the Estadio da Luz this Wednesday, a stadium they have already played at this season during the Champions League group stage. Now, the stage is different. As fate would have it, they have been drawn to play S.L. Benfica in the last sixteen, a team they already played against in the group stage, putting on a great show. Both teams crossed paths in the Champions League preliminary round where Barça ended up winning 4-5 after coming back from 4-2 down. In the Champions League preliminary round, Barça won 4-5 after coming back from 4-2 down.
Despite that precedent in which the Lisbon team proved to be a match for Barça, Barça start as favorites in tonight’s match. And the fact is that Hansi Flick’s team are coming to Lisbon on a roll in 2025, a year in which they have not failed to deliver and which has seen them take the sole lead in LaLiga after a spectacular comeback in which they have closed the gap on Real Madrid to ten points with a full house of wins, while the whites have only won five, now in third place, three behind the Catalans who took the top spot by beating Real Sociedad, who played with ten men for much of the game. Hansi Flick’s men had a field day: 4-0. Gerard Martín and Marc Casadó scored their first goals for Barça; Lewandowski did not miss his chance and Aráujo also joined in the fun.
Benfica, meanwhile, are in second place in the Primeira Liga with 53 points, level with Sporting CP. In the Champions League, they have just beaten AS Monaco in the Playoffs 4-3 on aggregate.
If you take important players out, Flick will put out a gala eleven
Hansi Flick will not experiment in the Champions League and will opt for a very recognizable eleven starting with Szczesny in goal. The defense will be made up of Alejandro Balde, Iñigo Martínez (both rested against Real Sociedad), Pau Cubarsí and Jules Koundé. In midfield, Frenkie de Jong, who also had a rest, will once again occupy the defensive pivot while Pedri and Dani Olmo will be in the starting eleven once again. Up front, it will be the usual trident of Lewandowski, Raphinha and Lamine Yamal.
Flick will be without the injured Christensen, who has suffered a relapse of his soleus injury, Ter Stegen, and Marc Bernal. In addition, Gavi is doubtful due to a fever.
Barça line-up against Benfica
Goalkeeper: Szczensy
Defenders: Koundé, Iñigo Martínez, Cubarsí and Balde
Midfielders: Pedri, Dani Olmo and Frenkie de Jong
Forwards: Raphinha, Lewandowsi and Lamine Yamal