Played
October 3, 2012 4:45 AM EST
Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica (da Luz) — Lisboa
Referee:‬ C. Çakιr‎
Attendance:‬ 63847‎
 
 
Alexis Sánchez 6′
 
Cesc Fàbregas 56′

Benfica - Barcelona Preview: The Portuguese team attempt to end the 30-year wait for a victory against a Spanish side

Matchday two in Group G sees Tito Vilanova's men travel to Lisbon to take on the two-time European champions

By Martin Macdonald

More On :  Benfica, FC Barcelona, Benfica vs FC Barcelona
Sevilla 2-3 Barcelona : Lionel Messi
Getty
  PROBABLE LINEUPS
BENFICA

Artur
 Pereira, Garay, Jardel, Melgarejo
 Salvio, Aimar, Enzo Perez, Gaitan
Rodrigo, Lima

BARCELONA
FC Lorient
Valdes
Dani Alves, Puyol, Mascherano, Alba
Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta
Cesc, Messi, Villa

Benficawill be without talismanic striker Oscar Cardozo, who has been ruled out of the Champions League encounter with a muscle injury. Manager Jorge Jesus will likely turn to Rodrigo Lima to feature in attack as the Brazilian bagged a brace against Pacos Ferreira at the weekend.

Also missing for the Portuguese side is Brazilian defender Luisao who is currently serving a two-month ban from football after pushing a referee in a pre-season friendly match.

Barcelona have been rocked by the news this week that Thiago Alcantara will be out for two months after rupturing his knee ligaments in the 3-2 win over Sevilla on Saturday.

However, Tito Vilanova has received some good news heading into the vital group stage match on Tuesday. Carles Puyol, Andres Iniesta and Adriano have all been passed fit and took part in a full training session on Sunday. Gerard Pique will likely miss the match as he is still recovering from injury.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Benfica have not defeated a Spanish side on home turf for 30 years.
  • Benfica and Barcelona both go into the match having enjoyed an unbeaten start in their respective domestic leagues.
  • Whenever these two clubs have met, the winners have gone on to lift the European Cup, starting with Bela Guttmann's Benfica in the 1961 final in Berne.
  • During the four-year reign of Tito Vilanova's predecessor, Josep Guardiola, Barcelona lost three of 24 Uefa Champions League away fixtures, winning 11 and drawing 10.
  • Barcelona's record in Portugal is W3 D3 L4, with their last defeat coming at Os Belenenses in the 1987/88 Uefa Cup first round. They still progressed 2-1 on aggregate.
  • Barcelona's latest meeting with Portuguese opposition ended in a 2-0 victory over Porto in the 2011 Uefa Super Cup.

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UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ 06/12/2012 FC Barcelona 0 - Benfica 0
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Odds
Team News
Available Squads
1ArturGoalkeeper
14Maximiliano PereiraDefender
24Ezequiel GarayDefender
-L. MelgarejoStriker
33Jardel Nivaldo VieiraDefender
-Bruno CésarMidfielder
8Toto SalvioMidfielder
20Osvaldo Nicolás Fabián GaitánMidfielder
21Nemanja MatićMidfielder
35Enzo Nicolás PérezMidfielder
18LimaStriker
-Paulo LopesGoalkeeper
27Miguel VítorDefender
27NolitoMidfielder
10P. AimarMidfielder
17Carlos MartinsMidfielder
-André AlmeidaMidfielder
19RodrigoStriker
1Víctor ValdésGoalkeeper
2Daniel AlvesDefender
5Carles PuyolDefender
18Jordi AlbaDefender
4Cesc FàbregasMidfielder
6XaviMidfielder
14Javier MascheranoMidfielder
16BusquetsMidfielder
9Alexis SánchezStriker
10Lionel MessiStriker
17PedroStriker
13José Pinto ColoradoGoalkeeper
21AdrianoDefender
8Andrés Iniesta LujánMidfielder
25Alex SongMidfielder
30Sergi RobertoMidfielder
7David VillaStriker
37TelloStriker
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Player   Goals Penalties
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid 		12 0
Robert Lewandowski Robert Lewandowski
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Dortmund 		10 1
Thomas Müller Thomas Müller
Striker
Bayern 		8 1
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona 		8 0
Burak Yılmaz Burak Yılmaz
Striker
Galatasaray 		8 0