Flick and Deco's Reactions to the Champions Draw: Benfica, a "very tough" opponent

FC Barcelona will face Benfica again in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. The Blaugrana team already defeated the 'Eagles' in the group stage (4-5 in Lisbon), but both Hansi Flick and Deco are clear about the complexity of a tie that will be the second in the history of the two-legged matches against the Lisbon team. In the quarter-finals of 2005/06, Barça advanced with an aggregate score of 2-0, closing the tie at home.

"I think it’s a tough match, Benfica plays very well. They are strong and lately we see that they know their opponents very well. It’s not easy to face them. I don’t think they are, by any means, an easy opponent," explained the coach. In that sense, he also 'dipped' into the excitement of possibly playing a Champions final, maybe against Real Madrid. "First, we have to reach the final. That is the goal, and there is a long way to go. First, we have to face Benfica, who is a good team," he added.

Similarly, Flick evaluated the level of the 'merengue' team, which left a better impression in the playoff against Manchester City compared to the level shown in the group stage. "They are a very strong team, one of the best. They have great players. We have to prove how good we are in every match. We are on a roll, but we still have a long way to go," pointed out the Blaugrana coach.

Deco, happy to avoid PSG, but respectful of Benfica

Like Hansi Flick, Deco also showed his respect for Benfica, recalling how difficult the group stage match was in Lisbon (4-5). "We suffered a lot. We achieved an important and historic comeback away from home, but it could have been lost because they are a very strong team. We cannot think beyond that because first we have to win against Benfica," he began saying in his talk with 'Movistar +' after the draw.

At the same time, the Blaugrana sporting director expressed his happiness at avoiding what he considers one of the favorites to reach the final in Munich, Paris Saint-Germain. "For me, PSG was one of the favorites last season and ended up eliminated against Borussia Dortmund. In the Champions, favoritism goes away, there are strong teams everywhere. We have to think match by match," Deco concluded. The first leg in Lisbon will be on Wednesday, March 5, while the return leg will be played on Tuesday, March 11, in Montjuïc. The first leg will be at 21:00, while the return is scheduled for 18:45.

• First Leg: Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 21:00 at Estadio da Luz (Lisbon).
• Return Leg: Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at 18:45 at Estadi Lluís Companys (Barcelona).