Evening Standard
·4 Maret 2025
Benfica vs Barcelona: Champions League prediction, kick-off time, TV, live stream, team news, h2h, odds

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·4 Maret 2025
Blaugrana head back to Portugal after nine-goal thriller
Benfica and Barcelona meet again in the Champions League this season with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
Just six weeks on from a remarkable nine-goal thriller during the League Phase, which Barca won 5-4 after trailing 3-1 at half-time, the two clash in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
Barca will be dreaming of European glory, a decade on from their last success, after landing on the opposite side of the draw to the likes of Liverpool, Real Madrid, Arsenal and others, though are on a collision course with Bayern Munich before any possible final.
Benfica know they must get a result at home to stand any chance of eliminating the Blaugrana, though the Spanish giants are on a 15-game unbeaten streak away from home and are usually good for more than one goal on their travels.
Benfica vs Barcelona is scheduled for an 8pm GMT kick-off on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.
The match will take place at Estadio da Luz.
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports.
Live stream: Fans can catch the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog.
Raphinha celebrates 96th-minute winner vs Benfica
AP
Benfica are sweating over the fitness of both Angel Di Maria and Florentino after the two midfielders were unable to train over the weekend. The pair are currently expected to miss the game.
January signing Bruma is ineligible to play after not being registered to play in the Champions League, though has a three-game ban in European competitions hanging over his head in any case.
Barcelona expect Gavi to be fit to play after an illness ruled him out of the win over Real Sociedad, but may not start ahead of the midfield three of Dani Olmo, Pedri and Frenkie de Jong.
Raphinha scored the 96th-minute winner the last time these two teams played, and is looking for his 13th goal involvement in his ninth Champions League game of the season.
While nine goals may not be served up this time, we should still see plenty of action at either end of the pitch.
Barcelona's front three have 69 goals between them so far this season, while Vangelis Pavlidis has seven in 10 in the Champions League this term, including a hat-trick in that goal bonanza in January.
The Spanish giants should prove too much for their Portuguese hosts, and could have the tie all but wrapped up after the first leg.
Benfica 1-3 Barcelona
Benfica wins: 2
Draws: 4
Barcelona wins: 4
Benfica: 12/5
Draw: 9/4
Barcelona: 4/5
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).