By Graham Ruthven
Excessive expectations
9 targets had been shared between Benfica and Barcelona the final time they met on this season’s Champions League with the Catalans leaving Lisbon with a well-known 5-4 win which noticed them rating three targets within the closing levels.
The Portuguese aspect have made a behavior of producing such pleasure within the Champions League this season having made the final 16 with a 4-3 combination win over Monaco. Bruno Lage would certainly accept one thing calmer on Wednesday.
Barcelona, nevertheless, aren’t concerned in lots of calm video games. They had been the highest scorers of the league section, netting 28 targets in simply eight matches, and are available into Wednesday’s fixture towards Benfica having scored eight targets of their final two outings.
Benfica additionally enter the final 16 tie in robust kind, successful seven of their final eight in all competitions. They’ve additionally scored in all however considered one of their house video games this season. Barcelona will probably be examined.
Key gamers
Vangelis Pavlidis has scored a formidable seven targets in 9 Champions League matches, making him one of the vital prolific forwards within the competitors to date this season. The Greek will probably be an enormous risk in behind Barcelona’s excessive line of defense.
Kerem Aktürkoğlu and Ángel Di María will even carry a risk within the vast areas, though the latter is carrying a knock and might need to start out Wednesday’s recreation on the bench.
On the again, Nicolás Otamendi and Anatoliy Trubin should be in high kind to maintain Barcelona’s unimaginable attacking line at arm’s size. Benfica would possibly want some fortune on their aspect to get by the sport.
Barca have an array of attacking expertise, most of whom may make the distinction on the Estadio da Luz. Two of the highest 4 scorers on this season’s Champions League are Barcelona gamers with Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha combining for 17 targets.
Lamine Yamal continues to get higher and higher with the teenage sensation set to start out on the fitting aspect of the Barcelona attacking. His dribbling capacity and pure creativity makes him so tough to play towards.
Ronald Araújo is predicted to maintain his place in central defence alongside Pau Cubarsí, however can Barca maintain issues collectively on the again when so many opponents have been capable of expose them defensively this season?
Staff information
Florentino Luís will miss out by damage for Benfica with Alexander Bah, Manu Silva, Tiago Gouveia and Renato Sanches additionally sidelined for the Portuguese aspect. Di María may additionally miss out.
Bruma, nevertheless, will return to the fold after a three-game ban carried over from the Europa League when he was a Braga participant. The Portuguese worldwide may begin within the attacking line if Di María is absent.
Gavi missed the weekend win over Actual Sociedad as a result of sickness, however ought to be out there to start out towards Benfica on Wednesday. The 20-year-old may come into Barca’s midfield unit for the match.
Andreas Christensen is injured once more after struggling one other calf pressure whereas Marc-André Ter Stegen and Marc Bernal are nonetheless working their method again from long-term accidents.
Prediction
We predict there will probably be targets, once more, and that Barca will take house a slim benefit to defend in subsequent week’s second leg: Benfica 2-3 Barcelona
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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