Benfica vs Barcelona predictions: Pavlidis the danger man for Benfica
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- Benfica have only failed to score in one home game this season
- Vangelis Pavlidis has scored eight goals in his last eight games
- Recommended bet: Vangelis Pavlidis Anytime Goalscorer
Benfica and Barcelona played out an incredible nine-goal thriller at the Estádio da Luz during the league phase and the pair meet again at the same venue in the first leg of their last 16 tie on Wednesday.
A repeat of that outrageous encounter is perhaps unlikely, but an entertaining affair should be expected nonetheless as two attacking teams go head-to-head.
Benfica's Vangelis Pavlidis scored a hat-trick inside the first 30 minutes in that league phase game back in January. The Greek hot-shot comes into Wednesday's game in fine form and he'll be looking to punish Barca once again.
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Team news
Bruma is in line to make a first appearance for Benfica in Europe after serving a ban that was carried over from a sending-off for Braga in the Europa League.
Florentino is technically available after a suspension of his own but will miss out due to a thigh injury, with Alexander Bah, Manu Silva, Tiago Gouveia (all knee), Renato Sanches and Angel Di Maria (both muscle) also missing for the Portuguese side.
Gavi was left on the bench by Barca in their win over Real Sociedad over the weekend due to illness and he could come back into the starting XI in Lisbon.
Andreas Christensen has a calf injury and faces a spell of around four weeks on the sidelines, while Marc Bernal and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are long-term absentees for the visitors.
The stats
Benfica are unbeaten in eight games, scoring 17 times during that run.
Barcelona are looking to extend a 15-game unbeaten streak.
Barcelona conceded on average 2.5 goals per game on the road in the league phase.
Pavlidis has scored seven of Benfica's 19 Champions League goals.
Prediction
Barcelona's 5-4 win at Benfica was arguably the standout game in the entire league phase and the duo meet again for two more battles in the last 16.
The Catalan giants are the clear favourites to win the tie and they may even be able to take a lead back to Camp Nou. However, Benfica should at least be able to get on the scoresheet in front of their own fans and if they do score Pavlidis looks the most likely candidate to put the ball in the back of the net.
The Greek striker has been in awesome form lately, scoring eight goals across his last eight games, only failing to score once during that run. Pavlidis hit a hat-trick inside 30 minutes when Barca last visited this venue, and he's averaging 2.4 shots per game in this competition.
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