Barcelona are in a confidence-boosting phase with six consecutive La Liga wins leading into their next Champions League encounter against Benfica. The two teams previously had an encounter that ended with a whopping 5-4 score in favor of Barcelona, showcasing a thrilling clash of talent. Here’s what to expect as they meet again:
Match Details
- Date: Wednesday, March 5
- Time: 3 PM ET
- Location: Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Lisbon, Portugal
- Live Stream: Paramount+
- Odds: Benfica +270; Draw +320; Barcelona -125
Team Insights
Benfica
Benfica’s striker, Vangelis Pavlidis, previously netted a hat trick in their last clash and has been crucial in their tournament run, contributing to nine goals across ten matches this season.
Predicted XI: Anatoliy Trubin, Alvaro Carreras, Nicolas Otamendi, Antonio Silva, Tomas Araujo, Orkun Kokcu, Leandro Barreiro, Fredrik Aursnes, Bruma, Vangelis Pavlidis, Kerem Akturkoglu
Barcelona
Barcelona aim to leverage their exceptional scoring potential, relying on the skills of Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski to overpower Benfica’s defenses.
Predicted XI: Wojciech Szczesny, Alex Balde, Inigo Martinez, Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde, Pedri, Frenkie De Jong, Raphinha, Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski
Prediction
We expect Barcelona to take early control and secure a commanding win. Pick: Benfica 1, Barcelona 3
