Barcelona vs Benfica: A High-Stakes Champions League Clash

On: Monday, March 10, 2025 4:47 PM
Barcelona vs Benfica: A High-Stakes Champions League Clash
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UEFA Champions League
Barcelona
FT
3 - 1
---
Benfica
11' - Raphinha
27' - Lamine Yamal
42' - Raphinha
13' - Nicolás Otamendi
Date March 11, 2025
Time 17:45
LeagueUEFA Champions League
StatusFT
Barcelona

Barcelona

Lineups (4-3-3)

  • 1 A. Trubin
  • 44 Tomás Araújo
  • 4 António Silva
  • 30 N. Otamendi
  • 26 S. Dahl
  • 8 F. Aursnes
  • 61 Florentino
  • 10 O. Kökçü
  • 17 K. Aktürkoğlu
  • 14 V. Pavlidis
  • 21 A. Schjelderup
  • coach: Bruno Lage

Subs

  • 85 Renato Sanches
  • 7 Z. Amdouni
  • 19 A. Belotti
  • 18 L. Barreiro
  • 84 João Rêgo
  • 24 Samuel Soares
  • 81 A. Bajrami
  • 60 Nuno Félix
  • 64 Gonçalo Oliveira
  • 9 Arthur Cabral
  • 25 G. Prestianni
  • 71 Leandro Santos
Benfica

Benfica

Lineups (4-2-3-1)

  • 25 W. Szczęsny
  • 23 J. Koundé
  • 4 R. Araujo
  • 5 Iñigo Martínez
  • 3 Alejandro Balde
  • 21 F. de Jong
  • 8 Pedri
  • 19 Lamine Yamal
  • 20 Dani Olmo
  • 11 Raphinha
  • 9 R. Lewandowski
  • Coach: H. Flick

Subs

  • 6 Gavi
  • 7 Ferran Torres
  • 17 Marc Casadó
  • 16 Fermín López
  • 24 Eric García
  • 32 Héctor Fort
  • 35 Gerard Martín
  • 10 Ansu Fati
  • 13 Iñaki Peña
  • 14 Pablo Torre
  • 31 D. Kochen
  • 18 Pau Víctor
BarcelonaStatsBenfica
6Shots on Goal2
9Shots off Goal3
20Total Shots8
5Blocked Shots3
13Shots insidebox5
7Shots outsidebox3
4Fouls8
1Corner Kicks6
3Offsides9
65%Ball Possession35%
0Yellow Cards1
0Red Cards0
1Goalkeeper Saves3
650Total passes338
580Passes accurate265
89%Passes %78%
2.52expected_goals0.74
-1goals_prevented-1
11'
Raphinha
Goal
13'
Nicolás Otamendi
Goal
27'
Lamine Yamal
Goal
42'
Raphinha
VAR
42'
Raphinha
Goal
48'
António Silva
Yellow Card
56'
Kerem Aktürkoğlu
Subs
56'
Andreas Schjelderup
Subs
70'
Dani Olmo
Subs
70'
Robert Lewandowski
Subs
70'
Orkun Kökçü
Subs
70'
Florentino Luís
Subs
81'
F. de Jong
Subs
82'
Lamine Yamal
Subs
84'
Tomás Araújo
Subs
87'
Iñigo Martínez
Subs

UEFA Champions League

#TeamPWDLPts
1 Liverpool870121
2 Barcelona861119
3 Arsenal861119
4 Inter861119
5 Atletico Madrid860218
6 Bayer Leverkusen851216
7 Lille851216
8 Aston Villa851216
9 Atalanta843115
10 Borussia Dortmund850315
11 Real Madrid850315
12 Bayern München850315
13 AC Milan850315
14 PSV Eindhoven842214
15 Paris Saint Germain841313
16 Benfica841313
17 Monaco841313
18 Stade Brestois 29841313
19 Feyenoord841313
20 Juventus833212
21 Celtic833212
22 Manchester City832311
23 Sporting CP832311
24 Club Brugge KV832311
25 Dinamo Zagreb832311
26 VfB Stuttgart831410
27 Shakhtar Donetsk82157
28 Bologna81346
29 FK Crvena Zvezda82066
30 Sturm Graz82066
31 Sparta Praha81164
32 RB Leipzig81073
33 Girona81073
34 Red Bull Salzburg81073
35 Slovan Bratislava80080
36 BSC Young Boys80080

The UEFA Champions League knockout stages always deliver thrilling encounters, and Barcelona vs Benfica is no exception. After a tense first-leg battle in Lisbon, where fine margins separated the two sides, the return fixture at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys promises to be another captivating contest.

Barcelona secured a narrow win in Portugal, thanks to a stunning strike from Raphinha, despite being reduced to ten men after Pau Cubarsí’s first-half dismissal. Now, with home advantage, the Blaugrana will look to finish the job and advance to the next round.

Barcelona Preview: Focused Despite an Emotional Setback

Barcelona’s preparations for this fixture were affected by a tragic event last weekend, as their scheduled La Liga clash with Osasuna was postponed following the passing of their first-team doctor, Carlos Minarra Garcia.

Despite the emotional weight, the team remains in the hunt for a treble. They sit atop La Liga, hold a strong position in the Copa del Rey semi-finals, and are now eyeing a deep run in the Champions League. With their attacking prowess on full display this season, they will aim to put Benfica under pressure early.

Barcelona Team News: Defensive Concerns

One key issue for Barcelona is the suspension of Pau Cubarsí, who saw red in the first leg. Additionally, Andreas Christensen and Marc Bernal are sidelined due to injuries, while Marc-André ter Stegen remains unavailable for the European squad.

🔹 Predicted XI (4-2-3-1):
Szczęsny; Koundé, García, Martínez, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski

🔹 Unavailable: Cubarsí (Suspended), Christensen (Injured), Bernal (Injured), Ter Stegen (Injured)

Benfica Preview: Tactical Approach is Key

Benfica came into the first leg with high expectations but struggled to break down Barcelona even after gaining a numerical advantage. Their challenge now is even greater, as they must overturn the deficit away from home.

With Barcelona’s high defensive line, Benfica may look to exploit counter-attacks, using pacey forwards like Vangelis Pavlidis and Kerem Akturkoglu. If they can stay disciplined at the back and take their chances in transition, they could cause problems for the home side.

Benfica Team News: Defensive Woes Continue

Much like Barcelona, Benfica will also be without a key defender due to suspension—former Manchester United full-back Álvaro Carreras. They also face injury concerns with key players such as Ángel Di María and Manu Silva missing.

🔹 Predicted XI (4-3-3):
Trubin; Araujo, A. Silva, Otamendi, Dahl; Kökçü, Aursnes, Barreiro; Akturkoglu, Pavlidis, Schjelderup

🔹 Unavailable: Bah (Injured), Gouveia (Injured), Carreras (Suspended), M. Silva (Injured), Di María (Injured)

Barcelona vs Benfica: Key Battles to Watch

💥 Lewandowski vs Otamendi
Barcelona’s experienced striker Robert Lewandowski will look to lead the attack against Benfica’s veteran defender Nicolás Otamendi. If Lewandowski finds space, he could make life difficult for the visitors.

💥 De Jong vs Kökçü
Midfield control will be crucial. Frenkie de Jong’s ability to dictate play will be tested against Orkun Kökçü, who must disrupt Barcelona’s rhythm while providing a creative spark for Benfica.

💥 Yamal vs Araujo
Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s young sensation, will look to exploit the right flank, going head-to-head with Alexander Araujo. If Yamal finds room to operate, he could be a game-changer.

Barcelona vs Benfica Prediction

Barcelona’s attacking form this season has been outstanding, netting over 140 goals in all competitions. Playing at home, with eleven men this time, they are favorites to dominate possession and control the tempo.

However, Benfica will be desperate to turn things around, and with Barcelona’s aggressive approach, they could find openings on the counterattack.

🔹 Prediction: Barcelona 3-1 Benfica
🔹 Betting Tip: Barcelona to win & over 2.5 goals

FAQs

Where is the Barcelona vs Benfica match being played?
The match will take place at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona.

What time does Barcelona vs Benfica start?
Kick-off is scheduled for Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at 5:45 PM (UK), 12:45 PM (ET), and 9:45 AM (PT).

How can I watch Barcelona vs Benfica live?

  • UK: TNT Sports (TV), Discovery+ (Online)
  • US: Not televised (TV), Paramount+ (Online)

Who are the key players to watch in Barcelona vs Benfica?
For Barcelona, Lewandowski and Raphinha are crucial, while Benfica will rely on Pavlidis and Akturkoglu.

Which team has a better head-to-head record?
Historically, Barcelona has had the edge over Benfica in European competitions.

What is the latest injury update for both teams?
Barcelona will miss Cubarsí (suspended) and Christensen (injured), while Benfica will be without Carreras (suspended) and Di María (injured).

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