Earlier today, Barcelona discovered their opponents for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, and it turned out to be a surprising matchup against a team they’ve already faced this season – Benfica.
The match between Barcelona and the Portuguese powerhouse could be considered the most exciting of the tournament to date, featuring open-play goals, unusual finishes, and a plentiful number of penalties.
In the end, it was Raphinha’s last-minute goal that secured all three points for Barcelona and ensured their place in the UCL knockout stages.
Benfica official weighs in
Benfica’s Director of International Relations, Simao, attended the draw earlier today and spoke to the media after his team was paired with Barcelona, a club he himself played for during two seasons.
During the interview, the former Barcelona player commended Lamine Yamal for his skill but advised his own players not to be intimidated by the young prodigy.
“He’s a crack and a phenomenon but we can’t be afraid. Being afraid of fear is the worst. You have to respect him.”
He’s doing very well. Barça are doing a great job with Lamine, not only in football,” he added.
At the same time, Simao also spoke about Pau Cubarsi, who is achieving similar impressive feats at an age close to Yamal’s.
“He is at the same level, but due to his quality and his personality as a defender, it’s not easy.”
He went on to explain the challenges of becoming a standout defender at a young age, especially in comparison to a forward.
Lamine is an attacker that we must face but Cubarsi seems to be four or five years older just like our centre-back Antonio Silva when he debuted. They both have a lot of peace of mind.”
The Benfica administrator then went on to speak about the game between Barcelona and his team earlier this season which ended in a last-gasp win for the Catalans against the run of play.
“The two teams were very good but we lost the game unfairly. We both have quality players and we know what we play. I don’t like to talk about the past but it was a great game.”
Simao was asked to discuss what made Barcelona stand out from other teams and why they were so dominant this season under Hansi Flick.
“Barcelona excels at controlling possession, and in a rapid counter-attack, they can destroy you completely. They have incredibly fast players, and the variety in their playstyle makes them very challenging.”
“The two games will feature goals, as we also apply early pressure. It will be tough and intense, but we are ready for it,” he added.
The former Barcelona player then talked about La Masia, which has experienced a revival in recent years, although it has consistently produced talented young players over time.
“Even during my time, young players who were given the chance started to emerge,” he said.
“We continue to invest in our youth system, like Barça. They can’t show their talent if they aren’t given the opportunity,” he added, drawing a comparison between Benfica’s academy and Barcelona’s.
“Both Benfica and Barcelona do well by investing in their youth and recognizing the efforts of the coaches,” he concluded.
Lastly, Simao shared his thoughts on returning to Catalonia after all these years, noting that he still kept many strong connections with people in the club’s offices.
“Returning to Barcelona is always something special. The emotional aspect matters a lot. I still stay in touch with friends like Carlos Naval, Dr. Ricard (Pruna), Deco, whom I played with on the national team, and Bojan, who is also a close friend.”
“I spent two years at Barça, where I learned a lot and had a great time, but now it’s my responsibility to represent Benfica, where I also played for six years,” he finished.
