Barcelona vs Benfica: Barca hope to win Champions League on blade, but club may have found its new star
Given the contrasting performances of both sides – Bayern have won all five of their group stage games so far, including beating Barça at Camp Nou 3-0 – that outcome seems unlikely, but It’s not all gloom and gloom for the Catalan side.
Yusuf Demir’s standout individual performance in the first half was a huge bright spot in another disappointing evening, with the 18-year-old providing an interesting glimpse into what his future might be. hold.
Demir, already a senior Austrian international, joined Blaugrana on loan from Rapid Vienna in the summer with the option to make a permanent transfer for a reported €10 million ($11.25 million).
The striker has been featured sparingly in recent weeks, playing just 34 minutes in a first-team game since September before starting with Benfica.
However, Barça fans can hope that Tuesday’s performance could be a sign of things to come as Xavi begins to make his mark on their squad and style.
Demir played wide on the right against Benfica, holding on to the touchline for most of the first half and shooting inside with his preferred left foot.
He made a superb effort like Lionel Messi in the 43rd minute, making a superb repeat attempt past Benfica goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos, but his shot hit the crossbar and bounced off.
Demir’s impact waned in the second half, leading Xavi to replace the youngster in the 66th minute with Ousmane Dembele, whose introduction greatly improved Barcelona’s performance.
Despite the disappointing results, Xavi insists he has seen enough to convince him that Barça “can compete with anyone.”
“We can go to Munich and win,” he told reporters after the game.
