The clash between Benfica and Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 promises to be a captivating encounter. Scheduled for March 5, 2025, at the iconic Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, this match will see two footballing giants compete for an advantage in the knockout stage of Europe’s most prestigious tournament. Benfica enters the match with a mixed bag of results, including a recent victory over Braga and a thrilling draw against Monaco. However, they face challenges with key injuries to influential players such as Di Maria and Florentino Luis. In contrast, Barcelona arrives buoyed by their impressive form in La Liga, having secured a commanding 4-0 win against Real Sociedad just prior to this fixture .
The Portuguese side advanced to this stage after overcoming Monaco in the play-off round, while Barcelona progressed by finishing second in the league phase, ready to continue their European journey.
Domestically, both teams find themselves in similarly intense battles for their respective league titles. Under Bruno Lage, Benfica have been in fine form, securing victories in their last four Primeira Liga fixtures. They also claimed a narrow 1-0 win over Braga in the Taca de Portugal.
Benfica possible starting lineup: Trubin; Araujo, Otamendi, Silva, Carreras; Kokcu, Barreiro, Aursnes; Akturkoglu, Pavlidis, Bruma
Barcelona possible starting lineup: Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Pedri, De Jong; Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha; Lewandowski
As both teams prepare to field their best lineups, tactical formations will play a crucial role. Benfica is expected to adopt a 4-3-3 formation led by Pavlidis at the forefront of their attack . Meanwhile, Barcelona aims to leverage its attacking prowess despite missing defender Christensen due to injury. The betting odds favor Barcelona significantly given their historical dominance over Benfica and superior recent performances; they previously triumphed in an exhilarating encounter that ended with a scoreline of 5-4.
For fans eager to watch this highly anticipated showdown live, broadcasting options are plentiful. In the UK, viewers can catch the match on TNT Sports or stream it via Discovery+. In the US market, Paramount+, TUDN.com alongside Univision NOW offer streaming services while DAZN caters to Canadian audiences. As anticipation builds for what is expected to be an electrifying first leg clash between these storied clubs, one can only speculate whether history will repeat itself or if Benfica will pull off an upset on home soil.
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