Benfica-FC Barcelona: A victory to secure qualification to the Champions Round of 16

Published:20/01/2025 - 17:39h

Updated:21/01/2025 - 23:01h

Barça will look to maintain their good European run against Benfica in Lisbon. If they achieve victory, the Catalans would secure direct qualification to the Round of 16 of the Champions League

After just over a month of 'pause', the ball will roll again in the top club competition. The FC Barcelona returns to the Champions League and will seek to maintain their almost perfect run in the tournament (currently 2nd in the table with 5 victories and 1 defeat) against Benfica at the Estádio da Luz, aiming for a victory that allows them to secure direct qualification to the Round of 16 in a match that promises excitement.

The Catalan team will face a rival that has historically been able to compete with them on equal terms. In fact, in the last visit of Barça to Lisbon in the 21/22 season, the team then managed by Jorge Jesus handed a 3-0 defeat to the side led by Ronald Koeman, laying the first stone for the subsequent elimination of the Catalans in the group stage.

Now, more than 4 years after that painful incident and in a completely opposite dynamic to that moment, the blaugranas are presented with a unique opportunity to redeem themselves in a territory that is always complicated.

Flick seeks to consolidate his starting eleven

The FC Barcelona, despite the unjust and undeserved stumble against Leganés in LaLiga (1-1), has started 2025 like a true 'storm', thrashing Barbastro (0-4) and Betis (5-1) in the Copa del Rey and being crowned champion of the Supercopa de España in a crushing manner after defeating Athletic Club (0-2) and Real Madrid (2-5).

In four of these five matches, barring some specific modifications, Hansi Flick has fielded what is expected to be his starting eleven for the remainder of the season. Koundé, Cubarsí, and Balde maintain their roles as undisputed starters, while the injury of Iñigo Martínez has opened the door for Ronald Araujo to take a starting position.

Meanwhile, due to the continuous absences of Dani Olmo, first due to the 'mess' with his license and now due to a muscle overload, Gavi is beginning to establish himself as the definitive partner of Marc Casadó and Pedri in midfield. In attack, the trio Lamine Yamal-Lewandowski-Raphinha is untouchable, leaving the big question in goal, where the debate between Iñaki Peña and Wojciech Szczesny remains open.

The scenario next Tuesday will be ideal to understand Flick's intentions with his team. Victory will be key for the Catalans' aspirations at the continental level, so the blaugrana coach will start with the best possible lineup, which could determine the team's trajectory in the second half of the season.

Barça seeks to dominate the history

The history between Barça and Benfica dates back to the early days of the Champions League. The first 'big-eared' trophy won by the Lisbon team in the 1960/1961 season was achieved after defeating the Catalan team of Kubala and Luis Suárez, and their encounters have always been filled with emotions and surprises.

In total, both teams have faced each other 9 times in European competition, with a highly balanced record: 3 blaugrana victories, 4 draws, and 2 matches won by the Portuguese. The duel this Tuesday will be the tenth between them and could break the tie between the two teams at the Estádio da Luz, where each side has achieved one victory and they have drawn twice.

1991/1992 season, third round: SL Benfica 0-0 FC Barcelona
2005/2006 season, quarter-finals: SL Benfica 0-0 FC Barcelona
2012/2013 season, group stage: SL Benfica 0-2 FC Barcelona
2021/2022 season, group stage: SL Benfica 3-0 FC Barcelona

A 'final' for both teams

A task that will not be easy, as Bruno Lage's side has also started the new year like a shot. They have played 5 matches and won them all, including a league cup final against their city rival, Sporting CP led by Viktor Gyökeres. Additionally, they are second in the domestic competition with three points less than their mentioned adversary.

In Europe, on the other hand, they are fifteenth in the table, with 3 victories, 1 draw, and 2 defeats, totaling 10 points. They will seek to defeat Barça to get closer to the top eight, a highly coveted area in this new format of the championship, which is why both teams are expected to approach the match as a true 'final'.

Thus, next Tuesday, at 21:00 hours, at the Estádio da Luz, two of the clubs with the most history in continental competition will face off once again with a clear objective in sight, making the duel promise to be unsuitable for the faint-hearted. Will Benfica manage to equal the record or will Barcelona be the one to extend their lead? The answer lies on the pitch.