Teams are getting closer to the end of the group round when the Champions League returns this Tuesday. There are just two matchdays left to decide which teams advance to the knockout stages under the new format, which features a thorough “everyone against everyone” approach. Clubs in the top eight out of the 36 will go straight to the Round of 16, while clubs in places nine through twenty-four will compete in preliminary knockout stages. The 25th through 36th-ranked teams will not be promoted to the Europa League; instead, they will be eliminated.

At 17:00 (Argentina time), Benfica, which has Nicolás Otamendi and Ángel Di María, will play FC Barcelona in Lisbon in one of the week’s most anticipated games. Hansi Flick, the manager of Barcelona, discussed the impending match at a news conference, saying: “Winning this competition is one of the toughest assignments in Europe. Since the opposition is a side that enjoys playing and knows how to hold onto the ball, we will see my team play a different type of football tomorrow,” Flick said.

One of Benfica’s main players, Di María, was also praised by Flick, who said, “Di María is one of my favorite players, and he continues to perform exceptionally well even at this age (36 years old, turning 37 in February).” Flick added, “The number of years he has been at the top is astounding. It’s a pleasure to watch him play, and his style can impact any match. He has an amazing left foot. After defeating Sporting CP in the final this past Saturday, Di María recently celebrated winning the League Cup in Portugal.

With 15 points from six games, Barcelona is currently ranked second in the Champions League standings. They would reach 18 points and guarantee their place in the knockout stage with a victory on Tuesday. With 10 points and a 15th-place finish, Benfica is currently in the running for the playoffs, but a loss could endanger their prospects going into the last matchday.