Benfica vs Barcelona, UCL 2024-25 Preview: H2H Record, Team News & Injury Update, Predicted Lineups

Add as a preferred source on Google

The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 intensifies this week as Portuguese heavyweights Benfica welcome Spanish giants Barcelona to the Estadio da Luz on Wednesday (March 5).

Both sides will be eager to gain an early foothold in the tie, with a crucial first-leg result setting the tone for the return fixture.

Benfica vs Barcelona UCL 2024-25

These two clubs have locked horns on multiple occasions, with Barcelona holding the upper hand in head-to-head encounters. The Blaugrana have registered four victories, while the Eagles have claimed two wins, with four games ending in stalemates. Notably, in their UCL 2021-22 group stage clash, Benfica dismantled Barcelona 3-0 in Lisbon, while the return leg at Camp Nou concluded in a goalless draw.

Benfica vs Barcelona: H2H Record

Benfica Wins: 2

Barcelona Wins: 4

Draws: 4

Benfica vs Barcelona UCL 2024-25: Current Form

Benfica: The Portuguese champions have been rock-solid in domestic action, currently placed second at the Primeira Liga table. Their defensive organization has been a key asset, conceding minimal goals in recent fixtures. However, the Eagles had no match on the past weekend, which makes them well-rested but could also lead to a lack of match sharpness.

Barcelona: Under the stewardship of Hansi Flick, the Catalan side has hit a rich vein of form, sitting atop La Liga with 57 points. Unbeaten in 2025, their emphatic 4-0 demolition of Real Sociedad extended their unbeaten streak to 15 matches across all competitions. La Blaugrana have found the back of the net multiple times in 11 of their last 12 away fixtures, highlighting their attacking prowess.

With both teams boasting impressive runs, Barcelona may enter as slight favorites, though Benfica’s European pedigree and fortress-like home record make them formidable opponents.

Benfica vs Barcelona: Recent Form (All Competitions)

Benfica: W, W, D, W, W

Barcelona: W, W, W, W, W

Benfica vs Barcelona UCL 2024-25: Team News and Injury Updates

Benfica:
Roger Schmidt’s squad faces multiple injury setbacks ahead of this crucial tie. Creative talisman Angel Di Maria is ruled out due to a hamstring issue, a major setback for Benfica’s attacking ingenuity. Renato Sanches remains sidelined with a thigh problem, while defensive options Alexander Bah, Manu Silva, and Tiago Gouveia are also unavailable. However, Bruma returns from a three-match suspension and is set to play a pivotal role in the attacking trident alongside Vangelis Pavlidis and Kerem Akturkoglu.

Barcelona:
Hansi Flick’s side is also dealing with fitness concerns. Andreas Christensen, after making a long-awaited return from a lengthy injury layoff, has suffered a fresh calf strain, ruling him out for approximately four weeks. Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Marc Bernal are still working their way back from serious knee injuries. Additionally, Dani Olmo remains sidelined due to a muscular setback, while Gavi’s availability is uncertain due to illness, with a late fitness test set to determine his inclusion. Barcelona will rely on the attacking firepower of Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Joao Felix to dictate proceedings in Lisbon.

With crucial absentees on both ends, tactical flexibility and squad depth will play a decisive role in shaping the outcome of this fixture. Benfica will look to leverage their home advantage, while Barcelona aims to impose their attacking dominance from the outset.

Benfica vs Barcelona UCL 2024-25: Predicted Starting XI

Benfica: Anatoliy Trubin; Tomas Araujo, Nicolas Otamendi, Silva, Alvaro Carreras; Orkun Kokcu, Leandro Barreiro, Fredrik Aursnes; Kerem Akturkoglu, Vangelis Pavlidis, Bruma

Barcelona: Wojciech Szczesny; Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, Alejandro Balde; Pedri, Frenkie de Jong; Lamine Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha; Robert Lewandowski