Benfica vs Barcelona Predictions

Based on form, Barcelona have a slight edge despite their inconsistent results. Though Benfica have shown resilience with a series of wins and draws, Barcelona’s capacity to perform on the biggest stages can’t be overlooked.

Match info: UEFA Champions League

Venue: Estadio da Luz, Lisbon

Date: Tuesday, 21^st January 2025

Time: 9 pm Nigerian time

Barcelona will aim to post their sixth Champions League victory in seven matches this season when they take on Portuguese giants Benfica in Lisbon on Tuesday night.

Hansi Flick's side are currently second in the Champions League table, boasting 15 points from their opening six matches, while Benfica are 15th, having picked up 10 points from their six matches in this season's league phase.

Head-to-head:

• Benfica have won 2 of the 9 UEFA Champions League meetings between the two teams.
• Barcelona recorded 3 victories.
• The remaining 4 clashes ended in draws.
• Benfica scored 7 goals in those games, while Barcelona hit the back of the net 8 times.
• Barca have a winning streak of five matches in the UEFA Champions League.
• The most common result of matches is 0-0. Three matches have ended with this result.
• Benfica are 15^th on the UCL table.
• Barcelona sit 2^nd on the log.

Form:

• Benfica in all competitions: W-L-L-W-W
• Barcelona in all competitions: L-L-W-W-D

Team News:

• Renato Sanches will miss the match for Benfica with an injury and Tiago Gouveia is doubtful for the game
• Ansu Fati will be left out of the squad. Inigo Martinez, Marc Bernal and Marc-Andre ter Stegen will miss the game with injuries.

Player(s) to watch:

• Kerem Akturkoglu is the player to watch out for Benfica in this game. Akturkoglu has scored six goals in 14 matches in the Liga NOS 2024/2025 season. He has scored three goals in the Champions League this season. He is a dynamic, agile left winger known for his speed, creativity, and ability to score and assist.
• Raphinha will be the player to watch out for Barcelona in this game. He has been sensational this season with 20 goals and 11 assists in 29 games. Raphinha can play across the front line, often positioned on the right wing but capable of playing on the left or as an attacking midfielder. His adaptability makes him valuable for tactical flexibility. The Brazilian winger possesses excellent ball control, with a flair for dribbling that often sees him weaving through defenders.