Barcelona aims to secure their place in the Round of 16 with a sixth consecutive League Phase victory in the Champions League facing Benfica in Lisbon.
BEN vs BAR Match Details
Date: Tuesday, 21 January 2024 / Wednesday, 22 January 2024
Time: 21:00 (CET), 01:30 (IST)
Venue: Estádio da Luz, Lisbon
BEN vs BAR Match Preview
Benfica are placed 15th in the 36-team table, holding a playoff spot, after six matches with three wins, one draw and two losses. However, the side remains in contention for the direct spot to the last 16 stage with only three points away from the top-eight and two games remaining in the League Phase. After battling some biggies on the way, the two-time European Cup winners will face Barcelona looking for a victory that will boost their chances for direct qualification to the next round. Bruno Lage’s men will be carrying a four-game unbeaten run into the fixture having also thrashed the Catalan giants in the previous meeting at home, a similar thing they did against the present La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid last year. The Eagles will feel confident ahead of the midweek clash having lost just twice at home this season in all competitions. The main issue for the side will be Angel Di Maria’s absence considering that he has scored 13 goals and picked up seven assists in 27 appearances this season forcing the other creators to shine in the evening.
Barcelona’s start of 2025 was handsome as they thrashed arch-rivals and holders Real Madrid 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final. Despite that, the side failed to win for the fourth time in La Liga leaving them seven points off the top spot. Contrary to their domestic form, Hansi Flick's side are rolling in the Champions League with five straight wins keeping them second on the League Phase table. Their only disappointment in the competition came in the 2-1 loss to Monaco on the opening day. Barcelona has since unleashed demolition job on Young Boys, Bayern Munich, Red Star, Brest and won a 3-2 thriller against Dortmund in the last Champions League outing of 2024. Three more points will almost secure the automatic last-16 spot for the team but their only success against Benfica away came in 2012. The defeat at Estádio da Luz in 2021 was one of the lowest points in the club’s history. Hence, they will be desperate to prove their revival from the left-away slump with a win here rather than pinning their hopes against Europa League winners Atalanta in their final League Phase game.
BEN vs BAR Recent Form (all competitions)
BEN: LWDWW
BAR: WWWWD
BEN vs BAR Recent Form (Champions League)
RM: WLLWD
BAR: WWWWW
BEN vs BAR Predicted Lineups
Benfica
Trubin; Bah, T Araujo, Otamendi, Fernandez; Aursnes, Florentino, Kokcu; Amdouni, Pavlidis, Akturkoglu
Barcelona
Pena; Kounde, R Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Casado, Pedri; Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha; Lewandowski
BEN vs BAR Dream11 Match Prediction
Barcelona will be able to claim their sixth straight Champions League win by defeating Benfica at Lisbon. We predict a 2-1 win for the Catalan giants.
BEN vs BAR Dream11 Top picks
Captain Pick: Raphinha
Vice-captain Picks: Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, Jules Koundé
BEN vs BAR Dream11 Team Suggestion

GK: Trubin (Cr - 7.5)
DEF: Fernandez (Cr - 8.5), Kounde (Cr - 8.5), Balde (Cr - 7),
MID: Yamal (Cr - 9), Kokcu (Cr - 8.5), Pedri (Cr - 8), Gavi (Cr - 7.5)
FW: Akturkoglu (Cr - 9), Lewandowski (Cr - 8.5), Raphinha (Cr - 9)
Vice-captain: Lamine Yamal
Captain: Raphinha