
The Football Faithful
·11 Maret 2025
Barcelona vs Benfica – Predicted lineup and team news

The Football Faithful
·11 Maret 2025
Barcelona face Benfica in the Champions League tonight with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
Hansi Flick’s side have a narrow 1-0 lead to protect after a hard-fought win in Lisbon last week. Barcelona survived Pau Cubarsi’s early red card to secure a first-leg lead with Wojciech Szczęsny inspired in goal.
The Spanish side are bidding to reach the quarter-finals for just the second time in five seasons, as the club target a first Champions League crown since 2015.
Barcelona’s game with Osasuna was postponed at the weekend, on the request of the Catalans. The postponement request came following the news of the death of the club’s first-team doctor, Carles Minarro Garcia.
Benfica bounced back from their first-leg defeat with a 3-0 win over Nacional in the Primeira Liga. Bruno Lage’s side have won five consecutive league games to move within three points of leaders Sporting, with a game in hand.
Robert Lewandowski is set to shake off some discomfort to feature in the second leg. The Polish forward is the joint-second highest scorer in the Champions League this season, with nine goals.
Barcelona remain without Andreas Christensen, who is out until April, while Pau Cubarsi is suspended after his first-leg red card. Ronald Araujo will come in at centre-back.
Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and midfielder Marc Bernal are long-term absentees.
Barcelona predicted XI: Szczęsny; Kounde, Martinez, Araujo, Balde; De Jong, Pedri, Olmo; Yamal, Raphinha, Lewandowski.
Barcelona host Benfica in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday 10th March 2025. Kick-off is 17:45 GMT.
The game will be broadcast on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.