Benfica host Barcelona on Wednesday in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 showdown.
These teams met in an epic encounter during the league phase, Barca eventually prevailing 5-4 courtesy of a 96th-minute winner from Raphinha amid torrential rain in Lisbon.
That goal secured the Catalans’ progress to this knockouts as a seeded side, while Benfica had to navigate the playoff round, coming through an engrossing tie with Monaco 4-3 on aggregate.
The Portuguese giants have won all but two of their games across all competitions since that loss to Barca and will be a stern test for Hansi Flick’s high-flying side. However, injuries to some experienced players has put them at an early disadvantage.
The Sporting News looks at the latest team news and predicted lineups.
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Benfica vs. Barcelona lineups, predicted starting 11, team news
Benfica were afforded extra rest as they did not play last weekend, but the injury picture for Bruno Lage’s team is not exactly encouraging.
Midfielder Florentino and former Real Madrid star Angel Di Maria are still recovering from thigh injuries and did not train on Sunday. A Bola reported that there is hope one or both could be available this week, but it is touch and go.
Manu Silva and Alexander Bah are out for the season after knee surgeries, while Renato Sanches and Tiago Gouveia are still some time away from a return. Bruma, signed from Braga in January, was left off the squad list for the Champions League knockouts as he is serving a three-game ban in European competition anyway.
Benfica predicted lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Trubin (GK) — Araujo, A. Silva, Otamendi, Carreras — Aursnes, Barreiro, Kokcu — Akturtoglu, Pavlidis, Dahl
Injured: Sanches (muscle), Gouveia (knee), Manu Silva (knee), Bah (knee), Florentino (thigh, doubt), Di Maria (thigh, doubt)
Suspended: Bruma (red card/ineligible)
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The fact the weekend win over Real Sociedad ultimately became a procession due to an early red card means Barca can go with a strong and at least partly rested team.
Inigo Martinez and Alejandro Balde should return to the defence after sitting things out on Sunday, while Frenkie de Jong and Gavi are also likely to be restored to the lineup, although the latter’s involvement will depend on whether he recovers from illness.
The front three of Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha picks itself. With 69 goals scored between them this season, they are a formidable test for any side left in this competition.
Barcelona predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Szczesny (GK) — Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde — De Jong, Pedri — Lamine Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha — Lewandowski
Injured: Ter Stegen (knee), Bernal (knee), Christensen (calf)
Suspended: None
Benfica vs. Barcelona live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this UEFA Champions League match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
