Barcelona 0-0 Benfica: Xavi's UCL managerial debut ends in a goalless draw

Barcelona's hopes of advancing from Group E of the 2021/22 Champions League are on thin ice after a 0-0 draw with Benfica on Tuesday night at the Camp Nou. While the Catalans are still second place in the group and two points ahead of the Portuguese club, Barcelona must now travel to Munich to face nemesis Bayern on the final matchday, while Benfica will take on Dynamo Kyiv.

Match Report

Xavi went with a starting XI that saw Yusuf Demir start up top in attack, while Clement Lenglet was given the nod at centre-back with Gerard Pique.

Barcelona started strong and had a trio of chances in the first half hour, including efforts from both Demir and Jordi Alba that were saved by Odisseas.

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen also had to be on his toes to deny Roman Yaremchuk later in the half, followed by a stinging effort from Demir that rang off the crossbar.

The rain only got heavier as play drifted into the second half, in which Memphis Depay had the first opportunity of the second stanza to break the deadlock, but was cut off by Benfica defender Nicolas Otamendi.

Ousmane Dembele was brought on for Demir to spark the attack midway through the second half and nearly crafted a goal with a cross that floated to Frenkie de Jong, who spun a header that was tipped over the crossbar by Odisseas.

Moments after a Ronald Araujo volley was annulled due to offside, Sergino Dest and Eric Garcia were brought on for Lenglet and Araujo, as Barcelona made one final push for a goal.

A Dembele effort had to be cleared off the goal line, while a stoppage time Gerard Pique header sailed wide.

But, it was a Benfica break that should have yielded a goal, only for Haris Seferovic to fire wide with just Ter Stegen to beat.

In the end, Barcelona were left to rue their missed chances and grapple with what will be a difficult final matchday trip to Germany.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

7' Demir's shot stopped

12' Arauio's shot over the bar

14' Depay's long shot over the bar

27' Gavira's shot stopped

35' Otamendi’s goal disallowed

43' CHANCE! Demir hits the beam

56' Depay missed great chance

67' De Jong's header stopped

83' OFFSIDE! Araujo’s goal disallowed

Line-ups

Barcelona XI: Pique, Alba, Busquets, Ter Stegen, Depay, Lenglet, De Jong, Ronald Araujo, Nico González, Y. Demir, Gavi

Subs: Luuk de Jong, Coutinho, Neto, Umtiti, Dembele, Pena, Eric Garcia, Dest, Riqui Puig, Óscar Mingueza, Álex Baldé

Benfica XI: Vertonghen, Otamendi, André Almeida, O. Vlachodimos, Gilberto, Álex Grimaldo, Mario, R. Yaremchuk, Rafa Silva, Weigl, Éverton

Subs: Taarabt, Pizzi, H. Seferović, Meite, Helton Leite, Lazaro, Ferro, Mile Svilar, Gedson Fernandes, D. Núñez, Gonçalo Ramos, Morato