FC Barcelona and Benfica face this Tuesday, March 11 at the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium with the aim of ensuring a place in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. The Catalans arrive with the 0-1 advantage harvested in Lisbon, a result that allows them to face the game with relative tranquility, but without margin for relaxation.
The victory in the first leg was suffered, since Barça played with a man less since the 20th minute after the expulsion of Pau Cubarsí, who will be the great absence in the culé defense for this meeting.
Beyond the sports, the match will be marked by the recent loss of Carles Miñarro, the doctor of the first team, whose death last Saturday in the concentration of the team forced the postponement of the LaLiga match against Osasuna.
Hansi Flick’s team faces this commitment to the motivation to pay tribute to a key figure within the club, as the coach himself stood out at a press conference: “We want to win for him.”
Since 2020, Barça failed to reach the quarterfinals in two consecutive seasons, and is now one step away from repeating the feat after its elimination against the PSG last season.
His path in Europe seems more clear than on the other side of the painting, so the illusion to reach the Munich final grows among the culé fans.
Flick will bet on a gala eleven
The German coach does not want to take risks and will align his best equipment available to close the tie. The main novelty will be the entrance of Ronald Araujo in the position of Pau Cubarsí, while in the center of the field the doubt between Gavi and Dani Olmo, two of the most emotionally affected players due to the loss of Miñarro follows.
In the attack, Raphinha will be one of the offensive references again after scoring the only goal in Da Luz, while Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres could also accompany Lewandowski in the front. Barça’s streak in 2025 is still impressive: 13 victories and 3 draws in all competitions, which makes it the only undefeated European team so far this year.
Benfica seeks the comeback in Barcelona
Despite the adverse result in the first leg, Benfica has not lost faith in the comeback. His hobby dismissed the team with enthusiasm at the Lisbon airport, reflecting confidence in a magical night in Montjuïc.
The club’s own president, Rui Costa, accompanied the expedition and assured that the players arrive “confident” in being able to turn the tie.
Bruno Lage’s team has proven to be a dangerous rival away from home in this Champions. In the group stage, he achieved key victories against teams such as Monaco (0-1) and Juventus (0-2), so they will try to repeat the formula against Barcelona.
However, the Lisbon team will not have several fundamental pieces: Álvaro Carreras is sanctioned, while Di María, Florentino and Bah are injured.
To replace these casualties, Lage has called Gonçalo Oliveira, a young defense of the quarry, while in the starting starting Otamendi and António Silva are expected in defense, Barreiro in the core and Pavlidis as the main threat in the attack. Benfica arrives with confidence after winning 3-0 at the National in the Portuguese League last Saturday.