Possible rivals for FC Barcelona in the Champions League round of 16: PSG or Benfica

Once the playoffs of the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 conclude this Wednesday, February 19, FC Barcelona already knows the two teams that could be its rivals in the Round of 16. After a spectacular league phase, qualifying as second for the next round, the Catalans will find out if they will face Benfica or Paris Saint-Germain in the draw scheduled for Friday, February 21 at 12:00 PM in Nyon.

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Having finished the group stage in second place, the Catalans, along with Liverpool (1st), are guaranteed to face one of the teams that finished in the 15th, 16th, 17th, or 18th position in the table, which are Monaco, Brest, PSG, or Benfica. After the Lisbon team eliminated the Monegasques and the Parisians did the same with their compatriots, 'reds' and blaugranas await them in the next round.

Benfica, a familiar foe

One of the teams that has secured its place in the Round of 16 on the potential side of the Barça bracket is Benfica. The Portuguese managed to overcome the Champions League playoffs after eliminating AS Monaco with an aggregate score of 4-3, defeating them 1-0 in the Principality and drawing 3-3 at the Estádio da Luz.

Hansi Flick's team already knows what it is like to face the Lisbon team in this edition of the continental tournament and is aware of the difficulty of a potential matchup. In the match between both teams during matchday 7 of the league phase, the blaugranas achieved a stunning victory with a comeback that is now part of the competition's history thanks to a goal from Raphinha in the last second of the match (4-5), so if they are paired, the tie promises excitement.

PSG, a match with 'spice'

The other team that could face Barça in the Round of 16 is PSG. The Parisian team qualified for the next round by dominating Brest, whom they defeated 0-3 in the first leg and overwhelmed in the return leg with a staggering 7-0 for a total of 10-0! If the draw decides so, both teams would meet in the Round of 16 for the third time in a high-tension tie filled with 'spice'.

The rivalry between the two teams has produced epic nights in Champions history, such as the unforgettable comeback of 6-1 in the 2016/17 season or the elimination in the quarter-finals of the last edition, which ultimately ended Xavi's project at Spotify Camp Nou. The history of encounters in Europe is completely balanced, with 5 victories for each side, as well as 4 draws, and each team scoring 27 goals.

The hypothetical duel would have a special 'flavor' due to the presence of Luis Enrique, a blaugrana legend and coach of the last treble, and Ousmane Dembélé, 'persona non grata' in the Catalan capital after his controversial departure in the summer of 2023. The Asturian has formed a highly competitive team at the Parc des Princes, and the Frenchman is one of the most in-form players currently, so a possible clash between the two could be considered a 'premature final'.