Flick warns of Benfica’s strength ahead of Champions League clash

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has emphasized the importance of respecting Benfica’s strength ahead of their highly anticipated Champions League encounter, warning that the Portuguese side will not be an easy opponent in the battle for a quarter-final spot.

The Catalan club secured a dramatic 5-4 victory over Benfica in the group stage after overturning a 1-3 deficit, with Raphinha scoring a last-minute winner. Barcelona finished second in their group behind Liverpool, while Benfica had to go through the play-offs, eliminating Monaco to reach the Round of 16.

Speaking at a press conference, as reported by PA Media, Flick stressed the need for his team to remain focused despite their recent positive form, with 15 unbeaten matches across all competitions and a return to the top of La Liga after a dominant win over Real Sociedad.

« Benfica is one of the strongest teams in the Champions League this season, and this will not be an easy match. We need an exceptional performance to secure qualification », Flick stated.
« We hope to be better prepared than in the first encounter because knockout rounds are unforgiving. Benfica’s stadium has an incredible atmosphere, which will make our task even harder », he added.

On the other side, Benfica coach Bruno Lage insisted that his team is not focused on Barcelona being the favorites, but rather on delivering a strong performance to keep their qualification hopes alive.

« What matters to us is how we can maximize our strengths to win. We know Barcelona scores a lot, but we have already shown that we can create chances against them », Lage commented.

Regarding team news, goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin is expected to return after missing the last two matches, while Ángel Di María and Florentino will be unavailable due to injuries.