Benfica and Barça face off in the seventh round of the Champions League, a match that will start at 9:00 PM. The game takes place at the legendary Estádio do Sport Lisboa, a field where they have met many times. It can be followed through Movistar + La Liga de Campeones and minute by minute through our social media @carpetasfcb
The referee appointed for this duel is the Dutchman Danny Makkelie (41 years old), considered one of the best internationally. In the VAR will be the also Dutch Rob Dieperink. This referee has officiated 4 times for the blaugranas, with a record of 3 wins and one loss.
The last precedent was last year, in the second leg of the round of 16 against Napoli, when the blaugranas won 3-1. He has only refereed the Portuguese once, in the loss against Inter Milan in the last group stage.
How Benfica Arrives
The Iberian team comes to this match with a great victory in the last league round, a 4-0 against a Famalicao that was no match. Thus cutting a bad streak, after having fallen against Braga and Sporting de Portugal, two direct rivals for the league. In fact, Gyökeres's team is leading, ahead of Benfica by 3 points, so that result is, so far, crucial.
In the Champions League, they occupy the 15th position with 10 points, with an overall record of 3 wins, 2 draws, and only one loss. Regarding goal scoring, the Portuguese have scored 10 goals and conceded seven. Their best player, at least the one contributing the most, is Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who has scored 3 goals in the Champions League.
How Barça Arrives
The blaugranas started the year in the best way, a title against their main rival and a thrashing in the Cup. However, the last league match was tough against the resilient Getafe, managing only a draw. This result puts them 7 points behind Real Madrid and ties them with Athletic in points.
The good news is that in the Champions League it's a different story, they are second and have secured qualification. While it's true that they lost against Monaco in the first round, the rest have all been victories. Only Liverpool surpasses them, having won all six matches while conceding only one goal.
In fact, Flick commented in the press conference that the "reds" are one of his "favorite teams." About Szczęsny, he said he's one of the best transfers he's made, but he hasn't revealed if he will play as a starter. Finally, he wanted to highlight Di Maria and how he enjoys watching him play.
Match Keys
High pressure: since 2025 began, we've seen how the blaugranas have transformed their play style. The defensive line isn't as high, so the opposing team falls offside less often. However, they still maintain that suffocating pressure at certain moments, and if they keep it up, they can create many chances.
Attention to the full-backs: The Portuguese team's full-backs have become one of the most dangerous offensive weapons. Both Álvaro and Bah tend to get very high, not only to assist but also to score. Between the two, they have scored 5 goals, figures that are unusual for their position.
The attacking midfielder position: With Olmo's absence, Flick must decide who will replace him and has several options. The first would be to opt for a continuous line and keep Gavi as a starter. The other option is to give the Sevillian a rest and opt for Fermín, a player who can provide that spark in attack.
Winning millions: Barça's economy is gradually recovering, and it even seems they've achieved the 1/1 rule. Still, income is always welcome, and in this Champions League format, the higher you finish, the more you earn. The classification among the top eight is almost ready, now it's just a matter of defining the position.