How will Barça line up against Benfica?

Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images Barça travel to Lisbon looking for a big knockout away win Barcelona are getting ready for the biggest game of their season so far as the Blaugrana travel to Lisbon to begin their Champions League Round of 16 tie against Benfica, with the first leg taking place in Portugal’s capital on Wednesday night.These two teams played perhaps the best match of the entire League Phase back in January, with Barça winning a nine-goal classic thanks to a 96th minute winner by Raphinha in a wild, rainy night in which Benfica gave the Blaugrana all they could handle.We should expect another intense and crazy clash as Benfica look to secure a strong result at home to stay alive in the tie ahead of next week’s second leg in Catalonia, while Barça will hope to play better and with more poise to have a much less stressful night this time and earn a big knockout away win in Europe.

Here’s how we think Hansi Flick will line up his troops for Wednesday’s battle:Defense Photo by Judit Cartiel/Soccrates/Getty Images Flick will certainly pick his strongest available side looking for a strong away result, and we reckon there are 11 players fighting for 10 outfield spots, with one big question at the back.And that one big doubt is whether Ronald Araujo will make it into the starting XI for a big game, with Pau Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez still looking like Flick’s favorite center-back pairing despite the Uruguayan’s return to form. We don’t think Araujo will start this one, but it wouldn’t be a big shock either if he replaces Iñigo.



Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde are the obvious choices at full-back, and both need to be very careful against a Benfica team that created terror on both wings in the first matchup.Midfield Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images As for the midfield, there should be no doubts as Dani Olmo is fully fit and ready to go as the number 10 in front of the double pivot of Pedri and Frenkie de Jong. Gavi would be in contention to start if not for an illness that’s caused him to miss the last few training sessions, and Fermín López appears to be a second half option for Flick as of now.

Attack Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images There are also no doubts about the attack for this one. It’ll be Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha looking to once again exploit Benfica’s bold approach to score multiple goals on the road. Raphinha has been amazing in Europe this season, and the Brazilian will look to turn it on again to help Barça conquer Lisbon for a second time this campaign.

Possible XI: Szczesny; Kounde, Cubarsí, Iñigo, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski (4-2-3-1)How do you think Barcelona should line up against Benfica? Let us know your thoughts, predictions and teams in the comments below!.