Barcelona and Benfica have met several times in the UEFA
Champions League and led to their notable encounters in the competition’s
history.
Barcelona and Benfica are
undoubtedly two of the European giants. Both have lifted the UCL/European Cup
more than once, although the former has won more in the modern days. The
latter, on the other hand, seems to have stumbled quite often in the summit or at
the crucial stages due to presumably the curse of Bella Guttmann, the gaffer
who ended Real Madrid’s dominance in Europe.
Throughout history, Barcelona
and Benfica have squared off ten times in UEFA’s top club competition. Some of
their duels were decisive to their campaign. This season, they have already met
in the league phase. The Catalan side crushed As Aguias 5-4 in one of the most
entertaining matches this season. Such is definitely regarded as one of the
best showdowns between the two in UCL history. Here are the other notable
encounters between the two giants from two neighboring nations that would be
hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup, Spain and Portugal.
Barcelona vs Benfica
2005/06
Both teams met in the
quarterfinals, and they had shared spoils in a goalless draw in the first leg
in Da Luz. Brazilian goalkeeper Moretto was instrumental in denying a number of
chances from Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto’o, and Henrik Larsson. The Catalan side had
two shots rattling the goal frame, whereas Benfica only posed a threat less
than the visitor.
In the reverse fixture, Frank
Rijkaard dropped Thiago Motta in the starting lineup following Carles Puyol’s
return. The skipper was absent in the first leg, and his void in the defense
line was filled by Mark Van Bommell. In Camp Nou, Blaugrana was more clinical.
Ronaldinho opened the scoring in the 19th minute before Samuel Eto’o doubled
their lead just a few minutes before the final whistle. They could have scored more, had Ronaldinho not missed the penalty.
The 2005/06 was the Brazilian
superstar’s peak season with the Catalan side as he inspired their glorious
campaign in the Champions League. Barcelona went on to clinch their second
title in history after thumping Arsenal 2-1 in the summit.
Barcelona vs Benfica
1991/92
Prior to their clash in 2006,
they both also faced off at the crucial stage, the final round with a group
stage in the 1991/92 campaign. It happened to be the season when Barcelona won
their first ever UCL or European Cup at that time.
The first leg was once again in
Lisbon and ended in a goalless tie. Both sides had their shots on target, but
neither was able to find the back of the net. The shot stoppers from each team,
Benfica’s Neno and Andoni Zubizaretta from Barcelona, were in form as they made
important saves.
The former did more in the first
half as Hristo Stoichkov wasted the opportunity twice, plus punched the ball
from Pep Guardiola’s free kick, and made a clearance outside the six-yard box
when he was almost one-on-one against the Catalan forward, Julio Salinas.
The latter, on the other hand,
displayed his quality more in the second half. The former Spanish international
saved three shots plus one before the interval, mostly from the Russian
striker, Sergey Yuran.
In the second leg, which was the
last fixture of the stage, Barcelona did not wait too long to break the
deadlock with Stoichkov’s powerful left-footed shot in the 12th minute. The
Bulgarian legend then turned provider 12 minutes later for Jose Maria Bakero to
double their advantage. Four minutes later, as Aguias came back with a shout as
Cesar Brito scored. Unfortunately, Sven Goran Eriksson’s men failed to find the
equalizer till the final whistle and succumbed to their first defeat against
the Catalan giant in history. They even only sat third in the final standings,
trailing four points from Barcelona at the top, which advanced to the summit.
Michael Laudrup and Co. eventually lifted their first Big Ear trophy in Wembley
after securing a narrow 1-0 win over Sampdoria from Ronald Koeman’s free kick
during the extra time.
Benfica vs Barcelona
1960/61 Final
The most thrilling meeting was
none other than their first encounter in the 1961 European Cup final. Benfica
had eliminated Hearts, Hungary’s Ujpesti Dozsa, Danish champion Aarhus GF, and
Rapid Vienna to reach the summit, whereas Blaugrana had a tougher route.
Ladislav Kubala and Co. had to see off Belgian champion Lierse, the reigning
champion, and their archrival, Real Madrid, Czechoslovakia’s Hradec Kralove,
and Hamburg SV on the way to the final, which was staged in Wankdorf Stadium,
Bern.
The game was quite even as both
sides opted for offensive tactics. Barcelona scored first through Sandor
Koscis’s header, taking the advantage from Luis Suarez’s cross in the 21st
minute. Yet, the Hungarian forward squandered his next two opportunities, which
proved to be costly. One of them only hit the post in the second half.
Ten minutes later, Benfica
equalized from Jose Aguas’s tap into the back of the net. A few seconds later,
they were even upfront in the score sheet following Blaugrana’s goalkeeper’s
mistake. Antoni Ramallets made a blunder and scored an own goal. In the 55th
minute, Mario Coluna volleyed the ball from outside the penalty area, putting
the Portuguese giant on a two-goal lead.
The Catalan side then had two
chances to reduce the deficit from Sandor Koscis and Ladislav Kubala’s
long-range shot. Sadly, both were denied by the post. They finally managed to
score from Zoltan Czibor’s blast in the 75th minute. That was the last goal of
the game, and Benfica came out as the new champion after Real Madrid’s
five-year domination.
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