In the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg, Barcelona played with ten men from the 22nd minute but still managed to win 1-0 against Benfica. Their La Liga match against Osasuna was postponed due to the sad passing of the first team doctor, so they should be well-rested for the second leg. However, manager Hansi Flick will likely be thinking ahead to their crucial match against Atlético Madrid next weekend, another team in the title race.
Barcelona are in a strong position to progress, as they remain the only unbeaten team in Europe’s top five leagues in 2025, with 13 wins and 3 draws. Playing at their temporary home, the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, should help them extend this impressive run, as they are unbeaten in their last seven games there, averaging 3.43 goals per match.
This presents a tough challenge for Benfica, who have won only three of their last 24 UEFA games against Spanish teams and have been knocked out in the last four two-legged ties against Spanish sides. However, Benfica will be confident after a 3-0 win over Nacional on Friday, their eighth win in the last ten matches.
Their recent form, with three away wins in a row in the competition, shows they can’t be ruled out just yet. They’ve won four of their five away games in this season’s UCL, with three of those victories coming by a single goal, a result that could force the tie into extra time. However, Benfica have been eliminated five times in the last six UCL knockout ties when losing the first leg.
