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29.09.21 - 21:00 CET
Four times the two football giants have met in the Champions League group stage and Benfica have not yet to score against Barcelona (twice 0:0, twice 0:2). But today Benfica feel they have a chance. Barcelona is going through a time of crisis, the club is burdened by astronomical debt, had to let go of Lionel Messi in the summer and the disagreements between coach Ronald Koeman and the club's president Joan Laporta are not a secret.
Off-field problems logically translate into results. In the Spanish league, Barcelona have already lost six points and their dejected performance at home against Bayern (0:3) suggested that the proud club could easily finish after the group stage.
I favour the home team in this match as they entered the league perfectly and won all 7 matches so far. It's true that they are quite troubled in the cups, in the last two matches they played two 0:0 draws, at PSV and Dynamo Kiev. In the match against PSV they played 60 minutes with ten men, so 0:0 is a good result and as for Kiev, it is no secret that it is really difficult to play in Ukraine, as the atmosphere is huge in favour of the home team.
The only thing that doesn't play into Benfica's hands is the absence of striker Seferovic, who is injured for a long time, but I believe Yaremchuk is a very strong replacement.
Barcelona, on the other hand, are struggling, losing points wherever they can in the league. The draw at home to Granada was something unexpected and they confirmed their bad form in the next game at Cadiz, where they lost 2 points again.
In addition, the Spanish team will miss players like Braithwaite, Aguero, Jordi Alba and Dembele.
My prediction: Double Chance: Benfica or Draw @ 1.57 (bet365)
Four times the two football giants have met in the Champions League group stage and Benfica have not yet to score against Barcelona (twice 0:0, twice 0:2). But today Benfica feel they have a chance. Barcelona is going through a time of crisis, the club is burdened by astronomical debt, had to let go of Lionel Messi in the summer and the disagreements between coach Ronald Koeman and the club's president Joan Laporta are not a secret.
Off-field problems logically translate into results. In the Spanish league, Barcelona have already lost six points and their dejected performance at home against Bayern (0:3) suggested that the proud club could easily finish after the group stage.
I favour the home team in this match as they entered the league perfectly and won all 7 matches so far. It's true that they are quite troubled in the cups, in the last two matches they played two 0:0 draws, at PSV and Dynamo Kiev. In the match against PSV they played 60 minutes with ten men, so 0:0 is a good result and as for Kiev, it is no secret that it is really difficult to play in Ukraine, as the atmosphere is huge in favour of the home team.
The only thing that doesn't play into Benfica's hands is the absence of striker Seferovic, who is injured for a long time, but I believe Yaremchuk is a very strong replacement.
Barcelona, on the other hand, are struggling, losing points wherever they can in the league. The draw at home to Granada was something unexpected and they confirmed their bad form in the next game at Cadiz, where they lost 2 points again.
In addition, the Spanish team will miss players like Braithwaite, Aguero, Jordi Alba and Dembele.
My prediction: Double Chance: Benfica or Draw @ 1.57 (bet365)
Scorers: Darwin Núñez (3', 79' PEN), Rafa (69')
87' Second yellow card to Eric García (Barcelona)