Barcelona's last visit to face Benfica in 2021 ended in a heavy defeat and a swift exit from the Uefa Champions League group stage. But with young starlet Lamine Yamal propelling a team on the rise, hopes are far higher for the Catalans this time around.
Barca head into Tuesday's match second in the group standings behind leaders Liverpool, and can seal progression to the last 16 at the Estadio da Luz, avoiding the new play-off phase.
It was a different story three years ago. Ronald Koeman was sacked soon after a 3-0 defeat and with the club heading towards a nadir.
Another Barcelona legend, Xavi, was parachuted in to steady the ship, and guided the Catalans as they won La Liga in 2022/23. It turned out to be short-lived, with Xavi walking away from Camp Nou in 2024 after a meek title defence.
Xavi did help teenager Yamal blossom, handing him his debut in April 2023 aged 15 years, 9 months, and 16 days. Yamal has gone from strength to strength, becoming one of Europe's leading lights, helping Spain win Euro 2024 and emerging as the symbol of Hansi Flick's exciting Barcelona side at the tender age of 17.
Barcelona have already thrashed reigning Champions League holders Real Madrid twice this season in La Liga and most recently in the Spanish Super Cup final held in Jeddah, as well as swatting aside German giants Bayern Munich earlier in the group phase.
Financial problems still trouble Barcelona, as evidenced by the recent Dani Olmo registration debacle. But on the pitch Flick's side, at their best, are capable of producing majestic football.
Yamal has been crucial to that. The silky winger, often compared to all-time Barcelona great Lionel Messi who also came through the club's La Masia youth academy, is playing on a level matched by few others in world football at present.
"Yes, he is," said his teammate Gavi, when asked if Yamal was the world's best player. "Well, after Lionel Messi, he's the best."
Yamal's skill and speed makes him Barcelona's biggest threat, racking up nine goals and 13 assists in 25 games across competitions, although on the left wing Raphinha has enjoyed a stunning season so far and been vital in front of goal.
The Brazilian winger, linked with a departure last summer, has fought to show his importance and struck 20 times, as well as providing 11 assists in 29 appearances.
Gavi has returned from a long-term injury strongly, Pedri is in career-best form in midfield, while 17-year-old centre-back, Pau Cubarsi, is also important in defence.
However Yamal's impact on the team's play is hard to replace when the forward is missing, as evidenced by a handful of games which he missed injured or was benched for a rest.
Without the winger starting, Barcelona lost against Osasuna, Real Sociedad, Celta Vigo, Las Palmas and Atletico Madrid in La Liga, slumping to third in the table having led for several weeks.
"I think in great matches you see big talent and he's showed it many times," Flick said after a Yamal tour de force against Real Betis in the Copa del Rey last week. "He's on a really good [path]."
With Yamal named in the line-up Barcelona have lost just twice this season, while winning 19 times and drawing twice.
One of the defeats came against Monaco in the Champions League in September, with Barcelona winning their next five in Europe after that.
Yamal and Barcelona will seek another victory in Lisbon to guarantee progress as part of the top eight and, a decade after they last lifted the trophy, show the five-time winners should be counted among Europe's elite.
The specs
Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 180hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 250Nm at 3,00rpm
Transmission: 5-speed sequential auto
Price: From Dh139,995
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 380hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Price: From Dh299,000 ($81,415)
On sale: Now
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
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Retirement funds heavily invested in equities at a risky time
Pension funds in growing economies in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East have a sharply higher percentage of assets parked in stocks, just at a time when trade tensions threaten to derail markets.
Retirement money managers in 14 geographies now allocate 40 per cent of their assets to equities, an 8 percentage-point climb over the past five years, according to a Mercer survey released last week that canvassed government, corporate and mandatory pension funds with almost $5 trillion in assets under management. That compares with about 25 per cent for pension funds in Europe.
The escalating trade spat between the US and China has heightened fears that stocks are ripe for a downturn. With tensions mounting and outcomes driven more by politics than economics, the S&P 500 Index will be on course for a “full-scale bear market” without Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts, Citigroup’s global macro strategy team said earlier this week.
The increased allocation to equities by growth-market pension funds has come at the expense of fixed-income investments, which declined 11 percentage points over the five years, according to the survey.
Hong Kong funds have the highest exposure to equities at 66 per cent, although that’s been relatively stable over the period. Japan’s equity allocation jumped 13 percentage points while South Korea’s increased 8 percentage points.
The money managers are also directing a higher portion of their funds to assets outside of their home countries. On average, foreign stocks now account for 49 per cent of respondents’ equity investments, 4 percentage points higher than five years ago, while foreign fixed-income exposure climbed 7 percentage points to 23 per cent. Funds in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan are among those seeking greater diversification in stocks and fixed income.
• Bloomberg
Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier
UAE results
Beat China by 16 runs
Lost to Thailand by 10 wickets
Beat Nepal by five runs
Beat Hong Kong by eight wickets
Beat Malaysia by 34 runs
Standings (P, W, l, NR, points)
1. Thailand 5 4 0 1 9
2. UAE 5 4 1 0 8
3. Nepal 5 2 1 2 6
4. Hong Kong 5 2 2 1 5
5. Malaysia 5 1 4 0 2
6. China 5 0 5 0 0
Final
Thailand v UAE, Monday, 7am
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Infobox
Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the next stage of qualifying, in Malaysia in August
Results
UAE beat Iran by 10 wickets
Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by eight wickets
Oman beat Bahrain by nine wickets
Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs
Monday fixtures
UAE v Kuwait, Iran v Saudi Arabia, Oman v Qatar, Maldives v Bahrain
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Directed by: Shaka King
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons
Four stars
