Having the home advantage in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League tie against Benfica can only be a positive for Barcelona who are looking like favourites in the event after long.
They even secured a 1-0 win in Portugal last week and are serious favourites ahead of tonight’s second leg.
How much the home advantage can be read into as a positive for them, however, continues to be in doubt especially when one considers the team’s queer record at Montjuic in recent years.
Favourites, but within limits
The Estadi Olimpic de Lluis Companys has largely been a good hunting ground for Barcelona, especially in the UEFA Champions League where they have won seven of their nine games at the venue so far.
As revealed by AS in a recent report, however, Barcelona’s record against elite opponents at the stadium is not as impressive as the former statistic.
Barcelona face Benfica tonight at Montjuic. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
The only game Barcelona have lost in the Champions League at the venue was against PSG last season in a game that traumatized the team who appeared to have sealed a place in the next round.
Further, the Catalans have also lost their only game against Real Madrid at Montjuic so far and even fell short to Atletico Madrid at the same venue earlier this season.
Barcelona’s record at the foster home is convincing, but not quite so against big opponents as they somehow manage to find a way to crumble under the weight of the occasion.
Today’s game against Benfica, thus, presents a big test and it will be interesting to see how Hansi Flick and Co. manage the game situation under pressure.