Barcelona prepare for another Benfica battle after nine-goal thriller

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick insists his side cannot afford to underestimate Benfica when they meet for the second time in the Champions League this season looking to secure a place in the quarter-finals.

Flick’s side snatched a thrilling 5-4 victory in Lisbon with a stoppage-time goal from Raphinha in their penultimate match of the league stage on January 21, having been 3-1 down at half-time.

Barca finished second in the table behind Liverpool to directly qualify for the last 16, while Benfica had to go through the play-offs, where they edged out Monaco.

While his team are unbeaten in 2025 through 15 matches across all competitions – moving back to the top of LaLiga with a 4-0 win over Real Sociedad – Flick insists there can be no sense of complacency ahead of the first leg at Estadio da Luz on Wednesday.

“We expect to face a very good team, one of the best in this tournament so far,” Flick told a press conference.

“We will have to play much better than them in order to progress.

“Hopefully we have prepared better than we were in the league phase game, with a better dynamic and strategy.

“There is no easy match in this phase. Benfica are a fantastic rival that have a stadium with a special atmosphere.

“It will be difficult, and we are not thinking beyond this tie.

“We have to give everything in every game – not only in the Champions League, but also in La Liga.”

Midfielder Gavi has been ill, but travelled to Portugal and will be assessed again by the club doctor after missing training, while Ansu Fati and Pablo Torre are also included.

Benfica coach Bruno Lage maintains his team’s mindset must be on their own performances rather than whether Barcelona will step things up as they eye a place in the quarter-finals.

“We are not interested in whether Barcelona are the favourites or not. I am simply fully focused on what we can achieve tomorrow,” Lage told a press conference.

“Our preparation has been the same (as before the league phase game), but the strategy may be slightly different.

“We are facing a great team who score many goals, but we must focus on the good things we did against them, such as the many chances we created. We must believe we can progress.”

Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin is expected to return, having been rested for the last league match against Boavista and also the Taca de Portugal quarter-final with Braga when Samuel Soares stood in.

Angel Di Maria and midfielder Florentino are both still not available as they manage thigh injuries.