Benfica v Barcelona Prediction:

Benfica welcome Barcelona to the Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica in a huge Champions League clash. After reaching the Champions League Quarter Finals in both 2021/22 and 2022/23, the Lisbon club will have a tougher challenge to face in Barcelona.

Key Stats:

• Barcelona have only lost one of their last 10 away games against Portuguese sides in European competition (W7 D2), although that one defeat did come at Benfica in September 2021.
• Benfica’s 10 games in the UEFA Champions League this season have seen 35 goals scored (20 for, 15 against).
• Among managers with 10+ games in the UEFA Champions League, Hansi Flick has the highest win percentage in the competition’s history (85% - 22 wins in 26 games).

Benfica v Barcelona Previews, Form and Players to Watch:

Benfica have played 10 matches in the Champions League this season, winning half of them, drawing two and losing three. Their only home losses came to Barcelona and Feyenoord and they’ve shown they can beat any opponent by triumphing over Monaco twice, Juventus and Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona have played two less games than Benfica as they finished second in the league phase and automatically qualified for the round of 16. Across their eight games so far in the Champions League they’ve won six, drawn one and lost one. They haven’t lost since matchday one (where they fell to defeat against Monaco) and until their last matchday (where they drew 2-2 with Atalanta) they were on a six game Champions League winning streak.

Benfica Preview:

Predicted Line Up: Trubin; Araujo, Otamendi, Silva, Carreras; Kokcu, Barreiro, Aursnes; Akturkoglu, Pavlidis, Bruma

Vangelis Pavlidis has been directly involved in nine goals in 10 appearances in the UEFA Champions League this season (seven goals, two assists). If he scores or assists in this game, he’ll become only the second player to be directly involved in 10+ goals for a Portuguese side in a single edition of the competition.

Barcelona Preview:

Predicted Line Up: Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Pedri, De Jong; Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha; Lewandowski

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has scored 24 goals in 21 appearances under Hansi Flick in the UEFA Champions League. Barcelona’s Raphinha has been directly involved in 12 goals in eight games in the UEFA Champions League this season (eight goals, four assists). Only two Brazilian players have ever had a hand in more in a single edition of the competition: Roberto Firmino in 2017-18 (17) and Kaká in 2006-07 (13).

Head-to-Head Stats - Benfica v Barcelona

Benfica and Barcelona have faced each other on 10 previous occasions in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League. Benfica have two wins, Barcelona have four and there have been four draws. They have already met in the UEFA Champions League this season, with nine goals being scored in an eventual 5-4 win for Barcelona. Benfica won two of their first three home games against Spanish sides in European competition (v Real Madrid in February 1965 and Real Betis in September 1982) yet have only managed a further two in their 12 such matches since then (D4 L6). The last five fixtures are as follows:

• Benfica 4-5 Barcelona, January 2025
• Barcelona 0-0 Benfica, November 2021
• Benfica 3-0 Barcelona, September 2021
• Barcelona 0-0 Benfica, December 2012
• Benfica 0-2 Barcelona, October 2012

Betting Tips for Benfica v Barcelona

Barcelona will be happy to keep the score low in this match. Unlike the earlier game this season, they will play more controlled. Barcelona will win, albeit with difficulty. For this reason, our betting experts say Barcelona to Win is the best value tip for this game. With odds at 5/6, a bet of £10 could see a potential return of up to £18.33.

(odds subject to change)

Final Prediction:

Benfica 1-2 Barcelona