Flick’s Team Looks to Overcome the Emotional Blow

The Blaugranas reached the quarterfinals last season and even dreamed of making the semifinals after defeating PSG in Paris (2-3). However, Ronald Araújo's red card turned the tie around, and Luis Enrique's side advanced with a 4-1 win.

This season feels different. Hansi Flick’s Barcelona has shown reliability, adjusting its pieces to compete for all titles. They lead LaLiga, remain in contention for the Copa del Rey, and hold an advantage in the Champions League round of 16 after their 0-1 first-leg victory in Lisbon.

That win was a true display of resilience. Barcelona played with 10 men after Pau Cubarsí was sent off in the 22nd minute, yet they held on and won. The triumph boosted Flick's squad's confidence, something they'll need after the emotional blow of Miñarro’s passing just hours before their postponed match against Osasuna. Now, they must channel their grief into energy to advance in the tournament.

Flick is expected to field his strongest lineup, with Cubarsí the only notable absence due to suspension, replaced by Araújo. The Uruguayan will partner with Íñigo Martínez in central defense, flanked by Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde as full-backs. There is no doubt that Wojciech Szczęsny will be in goal, as he was one of the standout players in Lisbon with eight crucial saves.

The only tactical question for Flick lies in the attacking midfield role, where he must choose between Dani Olmo and Gavi. The latter was heavily impacted by Cubarsí’s red card in the first leg and is expected to get the nod.

In midfield, Frenkie de Jong and Pedri will anchor the team, with the latter in the best form of his career. Up front, the attacking trio will feature Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha.

Benfica Seeks a Comeback with Strong Away Form

Despite playing against a Barcelona side that had 10 men for most of the first leg, Benfica’s squad received strong support from their fans on Monday at Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport before flying out to Spain. Club president Rui Costa, traveling with the team, expressed confidence in their ability to overturn the deficit.

The Portuguese side has been formidable on the road this season, securing wins over Monaco (0-1) and Juventus (0-2) in their last Champions League away games. Sitting second in the Primeira Liga, three points behind Sporting de Lisboa, Benfica arrives in Barcelona with four key absences: Spanish full-back Álvaro Carreras (suspension), and injured players Ángel Di María, Florentino, and Alexander Bah.

Among Bruno Lage’s squad selections, academy defender Gonçalo Oliveira stands out as a surprise inclusion. The team’s backbone will feature Nicolás Otamendi and António Silva in defense, Barreiro in midfield, and Vangelis Pavlidis leading the attack. Benfica is coming off a dominant 3-0 league victory against Nacional last weekend.

Probable Lineups

Barcelona: Szczęsny; Koundé, Araújo, Íñigo Martínez, Balde; Frenkie de Jong, Pedri; Olmo; Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Lewandowski.
Benfica: Trubin; Tomás Araújo, António Silva, Otamendi, Dahl; Orkun Kökçü, Aursnes, Barreiro; Kerem Aktürkoğlu, Pavlidis, Schjelderup.

Referee: François Letexier (FRA).