Benfica boss Lage expects more fireworks against Barcelona

LISBON - Barcelona and Benfica produced one of the most electrifying games of the season with a nine-goal thriller in the first phase of the Champions League and the Portuguese sides manager Bruno Lage told fans to brace for more excitement on Wednesday.

He said Benfica, who lost 5-4 after a stoppage time Raphinha strike, will stay true to their identity of attacking football when they host Barca again in the first leg of their last-16 clash and expects the Spanish giants to do the same.

I cant predict how many goals will be scored in the game, but I can predict a great game of football because theyre two teams with an eye for attack, Lage told a press conference on Tuesday.

I think its going to be a tough match and we will go out for the win. Sure, tomorrows result will be important, but the result of the second leg will be more decisive.

Were going up against a great team who score a lot of goals but were also looking at the positive things weve done against this opponent: the number of chances weve had, the number of times weve been in front of the goalkeeper... we believe we can get through this tie.

Benfica supporters want a different outcome to that late-January rip-roaring encounter at Lisbons Estadio da Luz in which Barcelona fought back from two goals down to win.

Struggling with injuries to key players, Lage confirmed that attacking midfielder Angel Di Maria and midfielder Florentino miss Wednesdays game as they recover but sounded optimistic that winger Renato Sanches should be ready.

The most important thing is for the team to function as a team, as a whole, regardless of who plays, Lage said.

We will try to find the spaces our rivals offer