Barcelona vs Benfica predictions: Catalans to book quarter-final spot
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- Barcelona are aiming to reach the quarter-finals for the second season in a row
- Benfica have beaten Barca just twice in 11 meetings
- Recommended bet: Barcelona to win and both teams to score
A place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League is at stake at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Tuesday night, when Barcelona host Benfica.
The Catalans hold a slender 1-0 advantage from the first leg, but they have been strong at home this season and will be confident of progressing to the last eight.
Team news
Barcelona centre-back Pau Cubarsi is suspended due to the red card he picked up in the first leg, while fellow defender Andreas Christensen is sidelined with a muscle injury.
Marc Bernal and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are both long-term absentees due to cruciate knee ligament injuries.
Benfica will be without Angel Di Maria because of a muscle problem, while ACL victims Alexander Bah and Manu Silva remain sidelined.
Florentino Luis was an unused substitute for the win over Nacional last time out and could be recalled to the Lisbon Eagles' starting XI.
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The stats
Brazil international Raphinha's 61st-minute goal handed Barcelona a 1-0 win in the first leg, the 28-year-old's 25th goal in all competitions this season.
The Catalans are unbeaten at home since the turn of the year, winning five times and drawing twice.
Barca collected 10 points from their four home games in the League Phase, beating Young Boys, Bayern Munich and Brest and drawing against Atalanta.
Benfica's defeat in the first leg was their sole defeat in their last 10 matches.
The Portuguese giants have won their last four away assignments, beating Juventus, Estrela, Monaco and Santa Clara.
Prediction
Barcelona are fighting for silverware on multiple fronts this season and they can continue their quest for Champions League glory by negotiating their way past Benfica.
The Catalans battled hard for the 1-0 win in the first leg after being reduced to 10 men and you get the sense Benfica missed their opportunity to gain an advantage.
Hansi Flick's side have been excellent at home since the turn of the year and most recently thumped Real Sociedad 4-0 at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
But Barca have not been rock-solid at the back, conceding four times against Atletico Madrid and twice against Atalanta at home, and that should give Benfica hope they can get on the scoresheet.
The visitors have failed to score in just one of their last 12 away fixtures and they can find the back of the net, albeit it will likely be in defeat.
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