Benfica comfortably defeated Famalicão 4-0 on Saturday, keeping them three points behind Liga Portugal leaders Sporting CP.
However, their focus this week shifts to the UEFA Champions League (UCL). A victory against Barcelona would propel them into contention for a place in the top eight, as they strive to maintain their four-game winning streak. Nonetheless, Bruno Lage’s team still has work to do, as their impressive start of two consecutive wins in the UCL was followed by two defeats in the next four matches (W1, D1).
The team’s home form is a cause for concern, as Benfica has only managed to win one of their last seven UCL matches at their own venue (D2, L4). It is worth noting that the sole victory came against Spanish opponents, Atlético Madrid, with an impressive 4-0 scoreline. The lack of goals in four of those games highlights their struggles in the final third. Additionally, it is worrying that Benfica failed to score in five out of their last six head-to-head encounters (W1, D3, L2).
Barcelona experienced a frustrating 1-1 draw against Getafe on Saturday, missing out on an opportunity to capitalize on Atlético’s unexpected loss in the Spanish title race. The draw put an end to their impressive four-game winning streak, which notably included a 5-2 victory over Real Madrid in the Supercopa de España final. They have also been performing well in other competitions, with five consecutive wins securing their second-place position after six rounds (with one loss) and guaranteeing at least a top-24 finish.
The head coach, Hansi Flick, will be hoping that his team can recover from the disappointment of the weekend and bring him more success in the upcoming competition. Flick has personally achieved an 88% win rate in the 24 matches he has managed from the touchline, with one draw and two losses. One of those defeats occurred in Monaco on matchday one of this season, but Barcelona managed to bounce back by winning their subsequent two UEFA Champions League away matches, despite conceding two goals in each game.
Players to keep an eye on: Kerem Aktürkoğlu has been the scorer of Benfica’s opening goal in two out of their previous three home UCL matches, notably in the 4-0 triumph against Atlético. Robert Lewandowski has the potential to make a significant impact, as he has found the back of the net in all four of his UCL appearances this season, with each goal proving decisive in securing victory.
Impressive run: Barcelona’s past eight UCL games have witnessed an uneven number of goals being scored.
