FC Barcelona Prepares for Champions League Clash Against Benfica

Lisbon, Portugal — FC Barcelona is gearing up for a critical first leg of their Champions League last 16 matchup against Benfica on Wednesday. The match comes just months after their last encounter at the Estádio da Luz in December, where Barcelona faced a tough competition.

In a pre-game press conference on Tuesday, one of Barca’s defenders, Cubarsí, reflected on the challenges faced in their previous game against Benfica. “It was a difficult game. We allowed Benfica to create a lot of chances and now we want to keep a clean sheet,” he stated with a smile. With a strong emphasis on defense, Cubarsí expressed his confidence in the team’s back line, saying, “I feel comfortable alongside Araujo, Iñigo, and Eric. We have some great players at center back and we all give our best.”

The press conference also highlighted the talent emerging from FC Barcelona’s La Masia youth academy. “Sharing a dressing room with players from La Masia makes getting along easy. It gives us positive energy, as does the combination with the experience we have also,” Cubarsí commented, underlining the synergy between experienced players and academy products.

Cubarsí also addressed the objectives for the team this season and the importance of maintaining focus. “Being a culer, I have always wanted to make my debut, play and score a goal for my club. However, we have to go game by game. Each match is a world in itself and can get difficult, but if we play well we have a good chance,” he explained. He concluded by stating that the team would need to remain “100% focused” in both legs of the tie.

In total, head coach Hansi Flick has named a squad of 24 players for this critical tie. The lineup includes key players such as Lewandowski, Pedri, and Ansu Fati, which reflects Barcelona’s depth and ambition to advance in the tournament. The second leg will take place at Estadi Olímpic on Tuesday, March 11, with kickoff set for 6:45 PM CET.