Benfica vs Barcelona Prediction: Analysis and Match Preview - Champions League

You say Benfica – Barcelona and you immediately think of the spectacular match from the first phase of the Champions League, which ended with a terrible defeat for the home team and an incredible victory for the guests who overturned the match from 4-2 to 4-5 with Raphinha’s goal in the 96th minute. Now, however, the two teams start on equal terms: that match no longer counts since Benfica has passed the playoff round and, thanks to a recent streak of victories, will at least try not to lose, to keep the qualifying round alive after the first ninety minutes at Da Luz. Against them will be a Mr. Barcelona who, although they may sometimes concede in defense, remains devastating in attack, just as Benfica has learned to their regret. The last league match served to bring the Blaugrana back to the top of La Liga, therefore, Flick's team will also have the serenity of being able, for one night, not to think about the three-way battle at home just like Benfica who, second behind Sporting Lisbon, but clearly on the rise will have all their attention focused on the Cup. The conditions, therefore, to play another open and lively match on both sides are still there but, probably, for the first time we will also see a bit of tactics and here the coaches will also come into play, Bruno Lage and Hans Flick who up until now have led their respective teams very well but who now arrive at an important juncture of the season.

Benfica's shape and key statistics

Benfica comes into the match in great shape: 7 wins and 1 draw in the last 8 and 6 points recovered at Sporting Lisbon in the last 4 league games where Lage's team is second.

Vangelis Pavlidis marked the last success in Liga but, the Greek, this season has been super in the Champions League where he has already scored 7 goals.

Overall, in Europe, Benfica has collected 5 wins, 2 draws and 3 defeats.

Barcelona's shape and key statistics

Scoring a lot, for Barcelona, ​​is the norm and not the exception. With the 4-0 in Liga against Real Sociedad, the number of games this season in which the Blaugrana have scored at least 4 goals becomes 18! The protagonist of a good part of them is Robert Lewandowski, who has reached the total figure of 31 goals this season.

The score of the last 8 games of Barcelona is excellent and is equal to that of Benfica: 7 wins and 1 draw. Barcelona is first in La Liga and, so far, has led a great Champions League: 6 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat. Away from home, Barcelona is unbeaten in 12 games of the season.

Benfica vs Barcelona Prediction and Tactical Analysis

It is not so much the 4-5 of the direct clash of just over a month ago but the offensive propensity of the two teams that, for Barcelona, ​​has always been of an elite level. Benfica, however, is doing very well, therefore, we read these two excellent moments of both teams not as harbingers of a closed and balanced match but rather of an open and potentially balanced one. Both Blaugrana and Aguias can score with many players and the prediction of the BetMines algorithm rewards this chance, suggesting the possibility of a match with more than two goals.

• The prediction of the BetMines algorithm for the Benfica - Barcelona match predicts an Over 2.5 goals at 61%
• The prediction of the BetMines algorithm for the Benfica - Barcelona match predicts an Under 2.5 goals at 39%

Benfica - Barcelona Predicted Lineups

Benfica (4-3-3): Trubin; Araujo, Silva, Otamendi, Carreras; Aursnes, Barreiro, Kocku; Akturcoglu, Pavlidis, Schjelderup. Coach: Lage.

Barcellona (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Koundé, Araujo, Martinez, Baldé; De Jong, Pedri; Lamine, Gavi, Rapinha; Lewandowski. Coach: Flick.