By Graham Ruthven
The race for high the eight
Benfica have already demonstrated their high quality towards certainly one of LaLiga’s large hitters within the Champions League this season, thumping Atlético Madrid 4-0 again in October. This must be a warning to Barcelona.
Bruno Lage’s group are well-placed to qualify for the competitors’s knockout rounds after three wins, two attracts and only one defeat within the league section. One other victory would all however safe their place within the high 24.
Barcelona’s Champions League type has been robust this season. Certainly, Hansi Flick’s group have suffered only one defeat in six video games, and that got here away to Monaco once they performed the vast majority of the match with 10 males.
The Catalans sit second within the 32-team desk with solely Liverpool forward of them. Nonetheless, their current type hasn’t been so glowing with Saturday’s 1-1 draw towards Getafe leaving Barca and not using a win of their final 4 league video games.
Barca’s final go to to Lisbon to face Benfica resulted in a 3-0 win for the hosts and this shall be one other take a look at for the Catalan outfit as they battle for consistency.
Key gamers
Lage will doubtless arrange in a 4-3-3 form that may look to use the house in behind the Barcelona full backs by way of Kerem Aktürkoğlu on the left and Ángel Di María on the correct, ought to the latter be match.
In central midfield, the stress shall be on Florentino Luís to cease Barcelona from discovering their passing rhythm. Fredrik Aursnes and Orkun Kökçü are additionally anticipated to start out within the centre of the pitch the place the match may very well be gained and misplaced.
Barca will area a fearsome beginning lineup with a frontline together with Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Pedri. Lamine Yamal has three targets in his final three video games whereas Lewandowski has scored seven targets in six Champions League outings this season.
On the again, Ronald Araújo is predicted to proceed alongside Pau Cubarsí with Iñaki Peña set to be favoured over Wojciech Szczęsny regardless of the Polish goalkeeper beginning the current Spanish Supercopa video games.
Crew information
Tiago Gouveia and Renato Sanches are each sidelined by way of harm for Benfica who is also with out Di María for the go to of Barcelona on Tuesday. In any other case, Lage has a completely match squad to select from.
The absence of Di María could be a major blow contemplating the Argentine’s report this season – the previous Paris Saint-Germain and Actual Madrid winger has registered 19 purpose involvements in 27 video games. It’s attainable he might begin the match on the bench.
Whereas Barcelona’s harm troubles have eased lately, they’re nonetheless with out numerous vital gamers together with Marc-André ter Stegen, Marc Bernal Iñigo Martínez.
Gavi was a fear following his early withdrawal towards Getafe on Saturday, however the younger midfielder is believed to be match and accessible to function towards Benfica.
Prediction
Barcelona ought to proceed their unbeaten run in Europe’s premier membership competitors however they gained’t discover it simple within the Portuguese capital: Benfica 1-1 Barcelona.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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