Benfica need help to advance to round of 16

It has now been more then 24 hours since the miss heard around the world in yesterdays Champions League group stage as Swiss striker Haris Seferovic missed a sure winner in injury time that would have seen Benfica leap over Barcelona and into second spot of their Champions League group going into their last group game in December at home against Dynamo Kiev. The miss was so upsetting that I could not even write about the game yesterday as like many Benfica fans I required a cool off period.

The good news for Benfica, Seferovic and the fans is that Benfica still have a shot at second place for a spot in the round of 16 but will require a little help from German giants Bayern Munich. The simple equation for qualification is that Benfica need a win against Dynamo Kiev and require a loss or draw by Barcelona in Munich, if Benfica fail to win they will head over to the Europa League. Benfica does hold the tiebreaker over Barcelona from their head to head encounters if the two clubs are to finish tied in points.

Benfica face biggest test of the season to date

Benfica travel to Spain to take on Barcelona in Champions League action on Tuesday in what may very well be the deciding game of who gets out of the group stage joining Bayern Munich in the round of 16 as both clubs look to get the better of the other. The two clubs are separated by just two points with Barcelona in front but Benfica go into the Catalonia capital, confident after trashing the Spanish giants in Lisbon 3-0 in their first group game encounter.

Simply said a Barcelona victory eliminates any hope of Benfica moving on from the group stage to the lucrative round of 16, while a draw will require Benfica to win their final game at home against Dynamo Kiev and rely on the help of group leaders Bayern Munich to avoid a loss at the hands of Barcelona on their own home turf. Benfica could make the matter simple by just winning their final two group stage games which will get them into the round of 16 for the first time since the 2016/17 edition.

Benfica will face a Barcelona squad lead by a new man on the sidelines after the dismissal of manager Ronald Koeman, as club legend Xavi has taken over the role, managing in just his first game yesterday. This game may very well come down to tactics over skill as can the wily veteran Jorge Jesus get the better of the young road runner Xavi in a game that means a huge deal to both clubs and fan bases.

Benfica to test Andre Almeida at center back

Benfica are flirting with the idea of giving right back Andre Almeida a shot in the center back position to help fill the void caused by the season ending injury suffered to regular starter Lucas Verissimo. Benfica will look to add a center back when the transfer window opens but with a flurry of games over the next six weeks, Benfica will be looking within its squad to shore up the back end until then.

Almeida is Benfica's longest serving player, joining the club in the summer of 2011 and has appeared in 291 games across all competitions, scoring eleven goals while adding forty-one helpers. The move would give the 31 year old a chance at regular minutes with a log jam developing in the right back position as Benfica currently have the option of using up to five current rostered players at right back including Almeida.