Benfica edged out AS Monaco in their UCL last 16 play-off, but Barcelona are a tougher task. Our expert expects this tie to be too much for the Reds.
Benfica boss Bruno Lage is expecting another “great game” with Barcelona, with the two teams set to meet in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday.
Barca beat Benfica 5-4 in the group stages and Lage told his pre-match press conference another classic could be on the cards.
“I can’t predict how many goals will be scored in the match, but I can predict a great game of football because there are two teams that have their sights set on attacking,” he told reporters.
Lage also said he was planning a similar approach to the previous game and is expecting his team to create chances.
“The approach is similar, the strategy we will implement is the one we feel will be the best,” he added.
“We will face a great team, with a lot of goals scored, but we also look at the positive things we did against this opponent, like the number of chances we had, the number of times we were in front of the goalkeeper. We believe we can get through this tie.
“We looked at our opponents and tried to find the spaces they offered us. As much as I would like to talk to you and go into more detail about your issue, I can’t and won’t do so.
“Maybe at the end of the game we can talk a little. But we have to know how to take advantage of the spaces that Barcelona will give us. It’s a very interesting question, but before we can answer it here we have to answer it on the pitch.”
The winners of the last 16 tie between the two sides will go on to play either Dortmund or Lille in the quarter-finals of the competition.
