Benfica vs Barcelona predictions: Barca can confirm top-eight spot
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- Barcelona are second in the Champions League
- Benfica are in 15th place
- Recommended bet: Barcelona to win
Barcelona should seal a top-eight place in the Champions League with victory at Benfica on Tuesday.
Barca are second in the table but a win over their Portuguese opponents plus a few other results going their way in the competition on Matchday Seven will secure their spot in the last 16.
Benfica are down in 15th in the table, but will also hope to make the knockout stage, even if they have to rely on progressing through via the play-offs.
Team news
Angel Di Maria, who is Benfica's top scorer this season with 13 goals in 27 games, is a major doubt to face Barca due to a thigh injury.
Tiago Gouveia and Renato Sanches are both still on the sidelines for the hosts.
Andreas Christensen is closing in on a return to action for the Blaugrana after recovering from an Achilles injury and he could be in the squad for Tuesday's clash.
Inigo Martinez is set to miss out with a hamstring injury, while Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Marc Bernal remain on the absentee list.
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The stats
Barca have won five of their six Champions League games this season, while Benfica have won three of their six games in the League Phase.
Benfica have won their last four games in all competitions.
Barca have won four of their last five matches, with their only stumble in that spell coming on Saturday when they drew 1-1 with Getafe in LaLiga.
Both sides have won a trophy this month – Barca beat Real Madrid to lift the Spanish Super Cup, while Benfica overcame Sporting on penalties to land the Portuguese League Cup.
Prediction
Barcelona know a victory in Lisbon will likely secure them a top-eight place with a final League Phase game to come at home to Atalanta later this month.
Having lost their opening match 2-1 at Monaco, Hansi Flick's side responded brilliantly, hammering Young Boys 5-0 and Bayern Munich 4-1 in their next two European outings.
They then won 5-2 at Crvena Zvezda before a routine 3-0 home success over Brest, while the 3-2 win at Borussia Dortmund last time out moved them up to second, guaranteeing them a place in the play-offs at least with two games to go.
Benfica are tricky opponents and the Eagles have already beaten Atletico Madrid 4-0 at home earlier in the competition to demonstrate their own Champions League credentials. but the visitors are fancied to edge it.
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