Barcelona came to this game with a single objective: to beat Benfica and thus qualify mathematically for the knockout stages of the Champions League. Ninety minutes later the team can say many things; that the level of play has improved a lot, that the attitude has been outstanding, that the young people have shown their face, that chances have been generated … it can be said of everything except that three points have been harvested.
The objective was clear and the players have had in their boots on multiple occasions the way to overtake their team, but the evident lack of aim that Barcelona has been carrying for several years has found its maximum splendor today.
The game began with an absolute dominance of the culé team that from very early took the initiative with the ball at their feet. The fast circulations of the most skilled midfielders (Busquets, Nico or Gavi) allowed the Catalans to enjoy many dangerous plays throughout the first half, of which none was enough for their team to go ahead at the break.
The start of the second half was difficult, as Benfica managed, thanks to certain tactical adjustments, to even seize the ball and leave Barça out of the game. It was the change of Ousmane Dembélé that reactivated the game for the Catalans, but Jorge Jesus did not take long to double the mark for the skilful Frenchman, which was still a nuisance for the Lisboners.
The game ended with the initial zero tie and in Barcelona they find it very difficult to get into the round of 16, but many teams in this Champions League would like to be able to say the following: Barça depends on itself to be in the knockout drum .
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