Opponent watch: Benfica veteran superstar remains a doubt for Barcelona clash | OneFootball

Barcelona and SL Benfica will lock horns next week at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys with a spot in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on the line.

The Blaugrana came away with a 1-0 win from the first leg of the Round of 16 clash despite being reduced to ten men.

With the reverse leg set to kick off in less than a week, Barcelona might have received an additional boost beyond their one-goal advantage from the first leg.

Angel Di Maria remains a doubt

Indeed, according to Mundo Deportivo, Benfica veteran winger Angel Di Maria remains a doubt for the second-leg fixture against Barcelona next Tuesday.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner has been out of action since early February after suffering a muscle injury in his left thigh during the Champions League playoff first leg against AS Monaco.

A doubt for the reverse fixture. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

As a result, Di Maria missed the first-leg tie against Barça earlier this week, along with another key player in Florentino Luis.

With Benfica facing Nacional de Madeira in the league this weekend, the Portuguese club’s manager, Bruno Lage, confirmed that the former Argentina international will be unavailable.

“Di Maria is not available, while Florentino and Tomas Araujo are still doubtful,” Lage stated.

Building on that, the report adds that Di Maria might not be ready in time for Benfica’s trip to Barcelona on Tuesday, which will come as a big boost for the Blaugrana given the Argentine’s quality, despite his age.

The 37-year-old has 14 goals and eight assists from 32 matches in all competitions for the Portuguese giants this season.