Benfica Faces Barcelona in Crucial Champions League Clash

LISBON, Portugal — Benfica and Barcelona will face off in a high-stakes Champions League match on Tuesday, January 21, at 5 p.m. local time at Estádio da Luz. The game is pivotal for both teams as they aim to secure their positions in the tournament.

Benfica, currently ranked 15th in the Champions League group stage, has accumulated 10 points from six matches. Barcelona, sitting in second place with 15 points, trails Liverpool, the group leader, by three points. A win for Barcelona could see them level with Liverpool, depending on the English club’s performance.

Barcelona enters the match in better form, having secured four wins and one draw in their last five games. The team boasts an average of 3.5 goals per game in this Champions League season, compared to Benfica’s 1.7 goals per match. Barcelona’s star striker, Robert Lewandowski, has been in exceptional form, scoring 26 goals in 27 appearances this season.

Benfica, however, faces challenges with injuries. Renato Sanches and Tiago Gouveia are sidelined, while Di María remains a doubt for the match. Barcelona will also miss key players, including goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, defender Martínez, and midfielder Bernal due to injuries.

Former Argentine forward Javier Saviola, who played for both clubs, expressed his excitement for the match on Instagram. “In a place where I was very happy personally and professionally, there is a great Champions League game tonight between two historic clubs that I had the privilege to defend. Good luck tonight,” Saviola wrote.

The match will be broadcast on SBT (open TV), TNT (cable TV), and Max (streaming). Fans are eagerly anticipating a thrilling encounter as both teams vie for crucial points in the Champions League.