Benfica coach labels Barcelona as a Champions League favourite – ‘A team with fantastic players’ | OneFootball

After a disappointing 1-1 draw with Getafe, Barcelona will look to make amends as they take on SL Benfica on Tuesday.

This will mark Barça’s seventh game in UCL’s league format, with the Catalans already holding a solid second position in the table. The club have won five of their six matches so far and are a favourite to finish inside the top eight.

Heading into this crucial game, Benfica coach Bruno Lage has heaped praise on Barcelona, even labelling them as one of the favourites to win the UCL this season.

Benfica coach ahead of Barcelona tie

“Of course, they are a candidate to win the Champions League. They are a team with fantastic players and collectively they have the Barça DNA, you can see the coach’s hand.

“With a more vertical game, stronger in the pressure and in the defensive transitions, a very powerful opponent,” Lage said (h/t SPORT) when asked about his opponent this midweek.

Lage was also asked about the strategy Benfica must play with in order to beat the Catalans this week.

“Strategically we have to change, it’s a different game and a different rival. Then we have to see how to play with and without the ball. It is essential, how to create problems in a very advanced line. That’s what we did today,” he replied.

Bruno Lage’s Benfica are ready for the Barcelona challenge (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

“There are two fundamental aspects, one is that we look at ourselves, at how to play. With and without the ball. How to create problems for a forward defensive line,” he concluded.

Lage’s keen observations are enough to suggest that Benfica are strategically prepared to take on Barcelona this midweek.

The Portuguese giants, after all, are known for their ability to cause upsets in big European games. Whether or not they can bring their A-game this week remains to be seen, though.

In the league, Benfica are involved in a close race with Sporting CP, with the Eagles trailing their rivals by just three points.

In the Champions League, Benfica stand 15th in the league table, with ten points in six matches. They are interestingly ahead of Real Madrid and Manchester City, though a lot could change should they fail to cause an upset against Barcelona.