Barcelona take on the visitors Benfica in the second leg of UEFA Champions League round of 1/8-finals. First leg result: 1-0. The match will be played on Tuesday, March 11th at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys (Barcelona).
Barcelona has already won a trophy under Flick but aims for more. Last season, the Blaugrana finished without any silverware, prompting Joan Laporta to finally part ways with Xavi after much deliberation. His replacement was a foreign coach with no prior experience in Spanish football—Hansi Flick. Yet, with almost the same squad (only Dani Olmo was a significant signing, while Szczęsny was brought in as an emergency measure, and several players left), Flick has managed to achieve vastly different results. Despite a difficult period in La Liga, they regained top spot by spring. The team also claimed the Spanish Super Cup and reached the Copa del Rey semifinals—although the first leg against Atlético Madrid ended in a chaotic 4-4 draw. In the Champions League, Barcelona stumbled early against Monaco but then secured consecutive wins, including a thrilling 5-4 comeback against Benfica away. They only dropped points against Atalanta in the final group match, yet still finished as one of the best-performing teams, earning a direct spot in the Round of 16. Flick has emphasized defensive structure lately, which should be crucial in a knockout-stage matchup.
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After a strong campaign two seasons ago, the Eagles lost the 2023/24 Primeira Liga title race to Sporting. Their start to the new season was also shaky, leading to the dismissal of Roger Schmidt. The current coach, Bruno Lage—like Flick—has already secured a trophy, albeit a less prestigious one, winning the Portuguese League Cup by defeating Sporting in the final (albeit via penalties). More importantly, he has turned Benfica into a serious contender for the Primeira Liga title again. In the Champions League, the Portuguese side won four group-stage matches, including victories over Atlético Madrid and Juventus, finishing with 13 points. They also defeated Monaco in the knockout round, though a nervy 3-3 home draw in the second leg raised concerns about Anatoliy Trubin’s performances in goal. Against Barcelona in Lisbon, Trubin made several key saves, but Benfica still suffered a defeat despite playing most of the match with a numerical advantage. Their away form in Europe remains inconsistent, which could be a major issue against a dominant Barcelona side at home.
Almost half of their past encounters have ended in draws. However, in January, Barcelona secured their fourth victory against Benfica, with just one defeat in their head-to-head history. Barcelona has already beaten Benfica twice this season, including away from home. At the Camp Nou, they should be able to win convincingly—backing them to cover a "-1.5 goal" handicap seems like the best choice.
Prediction for the match: Barcelona to win with -1.5 handicap.
