FC Barcelona - Benfica

FC Barcelona - Benfica: The Águilas eye the Camp Nou, Messi eyes Müller's record

Jordi Clos

12/05/2012 10:15

20.45, Canal+ Champions League: Barça, who have already qualified for the next round, will host Benfica at the Camp Nou

Leo Messi, who has scored 84 goals this year, will have a chance to break Müller's record of 85 goals scored in a calendar year

Jordi Alba, Iniesta, Cesc, Pedro, Xavi and Mascherano will not feature for the Blaugrana

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  Messi at Da Luz Stadium. PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB.

FC Barcelona, who have mathematically clinched their spot in the next round of the Champions League as group leaders, will close out the group stage of the competition at the Camp Nou against Benfica. The Portuguese side are currently sitting in second level on points with Celtic FC. Therefore, if Benfica win this evening at the Camp Nou they will make it through to the next round, while a draw or a defeat could see them out of the competition, depending on what Celtic do against Spartak (who have been eliminated).

Championship match between Benfica and Barça 50 years ago

Barça-Benfica is a match that’s charged with a lot of history. Catalans and Portuguese battled it out for the European Cup title in 1961. The memory isn’t a good one for Culés, as the Blaugrana rattled the woodwork multiple times and ended up losing the trophy. Decades later, the Blaugrana got their revenge by eliminating the Águilas in the group stage previous to the Wembley final in 1992 and in the quarter finals of the Champions League in 2006; Barça went on to win the title in Paris.

All eyes on Messi

Leo Messi will be the centre of attention this evening. He’s just one goal shy of equalling the all-time record for goals scored in a calendar year, set by Gerd ‘Der Bomber’ Müller in 1972 (85 goals). The Argentine, who is on exceptional form, has scored in his last six matches.

Messi is one of the 18 men named to the team by Tito Vilanova. Iniesta, Xavi, Mascherano, Pedro, Jordi Alba and Cesc will all be rested, while Barça B’s Tello, Deulofeu, Planas, Rafinha, Sergi Roberto and Sergi Gómez have all been named to the squad.

Do or die for Benfica

Benfica come into the match in dire need of all three points. They’ll play in a stadium that hasn’t conceded defeat to any visiting team in three years. The manager, Jorge Jesús, will try to lead his team to the knock out round without four of his most important players: Salvio, Aimar, Enzo Pérez and Carlos Martins.
Sources:: FC Barcelona Official website