27 September 2021, 16:54 | 28 August 2021, 15:29
The UEFA Champions League Group E fixture, S.L. Benfica vs. F.C. Barcelona, kicks off at 20:00 (GMT+1) on Wednesday, September 29 at the Estádio da Luz. Referee Daniele Orsato (ITA) will be in charge while Alessandro Giallatini (ITA) and Ciro Carbone (ITA) will be assisting. Massimiliano Irrati (ITA) will be the Video Assistant Referee.
Preview Benfica Champions League, Sep 29, 2021
Preview S.L. Benfica picked up a 3-1 victory over Vitoria SC in the Portuguese Primeira Liga over the weekend. The club sits at the top of the league, in 1st place and remains unbeaten in five games across all competitions: WWDWW, while having seven consecutive victories in the Portuguese League in as many games. Manager Jorge Jesus aims to replicate the fine form on Wednesday and pick up at least another point in the game against Barcelona ahead of Matchday 3 when they face difficult opponents, Bayern Munich. Following the goalless draw against Dynamo Kyiv, Benfica are in 2nd place in Group E with 1 point, as 3rd-place Dynamo Kyiv. Three at the back is expected once again from the 67-year-old, Jorge Jesus, fashioned into the 3—4—3 formation with Roman Yaremchuk, who bagged a brace over the weekend, playing in the middle of attack. Yaremchuk could be flanked on the left by Éverton and on the right by Rafa Silva. The Swiss center-forward, Haris Seferovic, remains in doubt for this fixture due to a muscle injury.
Preview FC Barcelona Champions League, Sep 29, 2021
Preview Barcelona suffered a 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich on UEFA Champions League Matchday 1. A goal from Thomas Müller (34’), coupled with a brace from Robert Lewandowski (56’ & 85'), was enough to reduce a lackluster Barcelona to size. The Spanish side recently put the pressure away with a 3-0 win over Levante at the weekend in Spain’s top-flight division, with Ansu Fati coming off the bench to wrap up the three points in stoppage time. Under-fire, Ronald Koeman wasn’t in the dugout following his two-match suspension after the red card at the death in the game against Cadiz, leaving the assistant, Alfred Schreuder to the task. However, he will return on Wednesday when Barcelona makes a new attempt to get their quest for European dominance back on track. Holding on to Barcelona’s fine record against Portuguese teams, complemented by the return of the likes of Pedri and Jordi Alba to the squad on Monday morning, Koeman shouldn’t have problems getting past Benfica. The Blaugrana remain unbeaten in the last 16 fixtures against Portuguese opposition on all turfs (13W, 3D, 0L), ever since the 1-0 defeat to Belenenses SAD in the 1987/88 edition of the UEFA Cup. Barcelona is at the bottom of Group E with no points and a goal difference of -3 after 0W, 0D & 1L. Koeman could line up the 4—3—3 formation with the trio consisting of Memphis Depay, Coutinho and de Jong in attack. For Wednesday's match, Barcelona will be without Sergio Aguero (calf injury) and Ousmane Dembélé (hamstring injury). Martin Braithwaite is recuperating from knee surgery, while Sergi Roberto remains in doubt. Looking ahead, Barcelona will host Dynamo Kyiv on Matchday 3, Oct. 20, at Camp Nou.