“They can make life very difficult” - Patrick Kluivert warns Barcelona about upcoming match against team who can ‘surprise’ in Champions League
Former Barcelona forward Patrick Kluivert has warned the club of Benfica's threat ahead of their UEFA Champions League (UCL) tie. The two European heavyweights lock horns at the Estadio da Luz on January 21 on Matchday 7 of the group stages.
The Catalans are flying high this season under Hansi Flick. The German manager took over from Xavi this summer and has hit the right chords at Camp Nou.
The LaLiga giants started their European campaign this season with a 2-1 defeat to Monaco. However, they have won all three games since, seeing off Young Boys, Bayern Munich and Crvena zvezda.
Speaking recently, as cited by O Jogo, Kluivert insisted that Benfica have the means to trouble his former side.
"Barcelona is in a better way, but Benfica is a club that can surprise very quickly. Looking at the players individually, and as a team, they can make life very complicated for Barcelona,” said Kluivert.
Hansi Flick's team have also been outstanding in the league so far. They have 11 wins in 13 games and are sitting six points clear at the top of the table.
Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have forged a stunning attacking trident, and have blown away oppositions. Barcelona have scored 40 goals in 13 games in LaLiga, conceding just 12.
When did Barcelona last win the Champions League?
Barcelona last won the Champions League in the 2014/15 season, getting the better of Juventus in the final at the Olympiastadion, Berlin. The fabled trio of Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar powered the club to another treble that year.
Messi and Neymar scored ten goals each in the Champions League that season, while Luis Suarez found the back of the net seven times. The diminutive Argentinean also set up six more in Europe.
Ivan Rakitic opened the scoring in the final against the Bianconeri, finding the back of the net as early as the fourth minute. However, Juventus got back into the game through Alvaro Morata's 55th minute strike.
Any talks of a comeback, though, were nipped in the bud 13 minutes later by Suarez, who sent his team ahead. Neymar then made it 3-1 in the seventh minute of second half injury time.
Andres Iniesta, who ran the show for his team, was adjudged the player of the match. Since then, the LaLiga giants have failed to progress beyond the semifinals of the tournament.