PREVIEW | Benfica v FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona are in Portugal for a 9pm CET kick-off at the Stadium of Light, home of Benfica, knowing that a win would almost certainly be enough to ensure direct qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League regardless of what happens in their final game at home to Atalanta.

With five wins from their first six games, Barça sit second to only Liverpool in the 36-team League Stage, and are already guaranteed a place in the knockout rounds. However, they'd much rather secure one of the top eight places that means they will not have to negotiate a potentially tricky playoff round.

And they're going into the first European fixture of 2025 on the back of some jaw-dropping displays in the Spanish Super Cup and the Copa del Rey, although the 1-1 draw at Getafe meant they are still struggling to replicate that magic in La Liga, where they have only won one of their last eight games. It remains mystifying why things are working out so well on all other fronts, while things just refuse to click in the domestic championship.

Stadium of Light

The Estádio da Luz, or 'Stadium of Light' as we like to call it in English, is one of the most iconic venues in world football, although the original 120,000 seat structure no longer exists, having been replaced in 2003 by the new 64,642 stadium, a year before it hosted the Euro 04 Final that was so unexpectedly won by Greece.

It has also hosted two Champions League Finals, including the one behind closed doors due to Covid in 2020. The latter was also the season it hosted a game that Barça fans would all much rather forget.

In the hope of a much happier result this time, Barça fans are travelling west en masse. Around 2,000 blaugrana souls are expected to be inside the stadium on Tuesday.

Benfica form guide

This is even more of a crunch match for the home side. Benfica are right in the middle of the Champions League table right now. Should they win, they'd still be in with a chance of claiming one of the top eight spots. But a defeat would have the opposite effect, and they would be in danger of not making the knockout stage at all. And the fact that their final game is away to Juventus doesn't help.

Benfica's UCL games so far
Red Star Belgrade 1-2 Benfica
Benfica 4–0 Atlético Madrid
Benfica 1–3 Feyenoord
Bayern Munich 1–0 Benfica
Monaco 2–3 Benfica

It's been an up and down campaign for The Eagles so far. The 4-0 drubbing of Atlético Madrid was one highlight, and another was the late comeback to win in Monaco, but the 3-1 reverse at home to Feyenoord, as well as the less unexpected defeat at Bayern, havr left them with work to do.

In the Primeira Liga, Benfica were knocked off the top spot when they lost to local rivals Sporting in the derby, and they followed that by losing at home to Braga, meaning they are now three points adrift of the lead.

Benfica most capped players
Ángel Di María (Argentina 145), Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina 123), Leandro Barreiro (Luxembourg 61), Vangelis Pavlidis (Greece 44), Kerem Aktürkoğlu (Turkey 40), Orkun Kökçü (Turkey 38), Renato Sanches (portugal 32), Zeki Amdouni (Switzerland 25), Fredrik Aursnes (Norway 20), Alexander Bah (Denmark 20), Anatoliy Trubin (Ukraine 19)

Head to head

1960-61 European Cup Final in Bern
Benfica 3-2 Barça

1991-91 European Cup Group Stage
Benfica 0-0 Barça
Barça 2-1 Benfica
Barça topped the group and went on to win the trophy

2005-06 Champions League Group Stage
Benfica 0-0 Barça
Barça 2-0 Benfica
Barça again went on to win the trophy

2012-13 Champions League Group Stage
Benfica 1-2 Barça
Barça 0-0 Benfica
Barça qualified but lost in the semi finals

2021-22 Champions League Group Stage
Benfica 3-0 Barça
Barça 0-0 Benfica
Barça failed to advance from the group

This is the sixth time the teams have met in Europe, always in the premier competition, with a mixed bag of results. The most famous was 1961 final in Bern, that awful night when the woodwork stood in the way of the Catalans' first ever European Cup title.

But the next two times Barça played Benfica, they went on to win the trophy, in 1992 under Johan Cruyff and 2006 under Frank Rijkaard.

The most recent meeting, three years ago, was a painful one. Barça were soundly beaten in Lisbon and were then held 0-0 at Camp Nou, meaning that they failed to advance and dropped instead into the Europa League.

Team news

Other than Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Marc Bernal, who are probably out for the season, there are two other injury concerns at Barça. Iñigo Martinez is out for a few weeks, while Dani Olmo is also unavailable after picking up a calf strain.

Andreas Christensen is finally match fit, but didn't get to feature against Getafe at the weekend. This could be his chance. There are also doubts concerning the goalkeeping position. Iñaki Peña has been doing UCL duties until now, but new recruit Wojciech Szczęsny (when not suspended) has had the chance to shine in the cup competitions. But what are Hansi Flick's thoughts concerning the Champions League. We'll soon be finding out.

Benfica are also relatively injury-free. Youngster Tiago Gouveia and PSG loanee Renato Sanches are the only sure absences, although there are also concerns about the fitness of former Real Madrid man Angel Di Maria.

What they're saying

Hansi Flick: 'A win would be a step forward'

Ferran Torres: 'It's an important game for qualification'

Raphinha: 'I feel privileged to be one of Barça's captains'