FC Barcelona and Benfica will face off this Tuesday in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. The match will take place at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys at 1:45 PM ET, with French referee François Letexier officiating. After securing a 1-0 victory in the first leg in Lisbon, the Catalan side holds the upper hand in the tie.

Barcelona Aiming for a Quarterfinal Spot with Extra Motivation

Under Hansi Flick, Barcelona approaches this match determined to turn the sorrow of Dr. Carles Miñarro’s passing into positive energy to secure their spot in the quarterfinals. The Blaugrana have been in outstanding form in 2025, with 13 wins and 3 draws across all competitions. In the first leg, they managed a hard-fought victory despite playing with 10 men from the 22nd minute. Wojciech Szczęsny was instrumental with eight saves, while Pedri and Raphinha led the attack.

Benfica Banking on Strong Away Form

Meanwhile, Benfica is relying on its impressive away performances in this year’s Champions League, having secured wins against Monaco and Juventus, to stage a comeback. However, the Portuguese side will be missing four key players: Álvaro Carreras (suspension), Ángel Di María, Florentino, and Bah (injuries). Despite this, club president Rui Costa expressed confidence ahead of the trip to Barcelona: "We believe in our ability to turn this tie around." Head coach Bruno Lage echoed this sentiment, saying, "Nothing is decided yet. Everything is still possible."

Flick: "We Want to Win for Carles Miñarro"

Hansi Flick has emphasized the emotional weight of this match beyond just the sporting aspect. "We want to play for Carles Miñarro and dedicate the victory to him," said the German coach. He also made it clear that his team isn’t taking anything for granted: "We don’t think the job is done. We want to win the second leg."

Flick also praised goalkeeper Szczęsny and winger Raphinha, both of whom have been decisive against Benfica this season. "He’s a mature, experienced keeper who brings us a lot of confidence," he said about the Polish shot-stopper. On Raphinha, he highlighted his impact in the attack: "If you look at all the goals he’s scored this season, you’ll understand his value to the team."