Benfica vs FC Barcelona: Probable lineups for the match - Champions League 2024-25

Benfica and FC Barcelona will meet this Wednesday, March 5, 2025 in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League 2024-2025. The Blaugrana team is looking for a victory that will allow them to take the first big step towards the quarter-finals of the competition, so it is expected that Hansi Flick will field the best team available.

Next, we review the possible starting formation, the substitutes bench, and the injured and suspended players of Hansi Flick's Barcelona.

With the aim of delivering the first blow in an electrifying tie, the German would come out with all his 'firepower' against the Lisbon team. Pau Cubarsí would accompany Iñigo Martínez in the center of defense, while Alejandro Balde would return to left back. Dani Olmo would remain in the midfield alongside Frenkie de Jong and Pedri due to doubts about Gavi's physical condition, and the attacking trio would remain intact. Ter Stegen, Christensen, and Marc Bernal are out due to injury.

Possible lineup of FC Barcelona against Benfica

• Starting XI: (25, P) Szczesny; (23) Koundé, (2) Pau Cubarsí, (5) Íñigo Martínez, (3) Balde; (21) Frenkie De Jong, (8) Pedri, (20) Dani Olmo; (19) Lamine Yamal, (11) Raphinha, (9) Lewandowski.
• Bench: (13, P) Iñaki Peña; (4) Araujo; (6) Gavi; (7) Ferran Torres; (10) Ansu Fati; (14) Pablo Torre; (16) Fermín López; (17) Casadó; (18) Pau Víctor; (24) Eric García; (31, P) Kochen; (32) Héctor Fort; (35) Gerard Martín.
• Injured: (1) Ter Stegen; (28) Marc Bernal; (15) Andreas Christensen.
• Suspended: None.

The Barça aims to lay the first stone on their path to the quarter-finals of the Champions by taking advantage of their spectacular form. The culés remain unbeaten in 2025, with a remarkable record of 12 victories and 3 draws in the 15 matches they have played so far. The team hopes to reaffirm their good feelings in a stadium where they already know what it is to win this season, as it was in Lisbon where they achieved that historic comeback in the league phase (4-5), so they hope to repeat this result to face the return leg with greater peace of mind.

Opposing them will be a Benfica  that has not lost in their last 8 matches, with a record of 7 victories and just one draw. The team led by Bruno Lage is on the rise and, although they will have a couple of painful absences, they seek revenge after the painful defeat suffered in the group stage, which is why the Blaugranas are preparing to face a true test of fire.

Possible lineup of Benfica against FC Barcelona

• Starting XI: Trubin; Álvaro Carreras, Otamendi, Tomás Araújo; Dahl, Kökkçü, Aursnes, Leandro Santos; Aktürkoğlu, Pavlidis, and Amdouni.
• Bench: (coming soon)
• Injured: Tiago Gouveia; Alexander Bah; Manu Silva; Di Maria; Florentino. 
• Suspended: None.