Barça will play next Tuesday at the Estádio da Luz in the penultimate match of the new Champions League group stage. The main goal of the team led by Hansi Flick is to shake off the disappointment of the draw against Getafe and try to maintain their good run in Europe.
Barça has everything in its favor to be among the top 8 in the Champions. With only one loss in the six matches played so far, only a catastrophe could keep them out of the next round.
Barça Visits a Cursed Stadium to Secure a Spot in the Next round
Estádio da Luz is a venue that doesn't bring good memories to the Barcelona fans. There's no need to recall that it's where the Catalan team was eliminated from the Champions group stage in 2021. However, Flick's task is to bury the ghosts of the past, and he's succeeding remarkably.
The current Barça is nothing like that transitional team led by Xavi Hernández. The team is second in the Champions standings and travels to Portugal intending to confirm their good position and even try to fight for the lead.
They will face a Benfica that occupies the third position in the Portuguese Primeira Liga. In the Champions League, however, with 10 points in the group stage, they occupy the 15th place.
Dani Olmo, Last-minute Absence for the Match
Barça confirmed this Sunday that Dani Olmo is suffering from "a strain in the right leg's soleus." Although it's not a serious injury, the player will need to rest and won't be available for the match against Benfica.
The Catalan striker wasn't a starter at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, but he played the last half hour of the match. Since he arrived at the club, between registration issues and bad luck with injuries, he hasn't found the desired consistency.
In any case, it's expected that the player might be available for next weekend's match against Valencia CF. However, he's a serious doubt, and the evolution of the strain will determine his availability.