Bruno Lage, the head coach of Benfica, confirmed his strong belief in his team's ability to secure a victory against Barcelona in the second leg of the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League during the press conference held before the anticipated match.

Barcelona had won 1-0 in the first leg held in Barcelona, but the Portuguese coach emphasized that his team possesses all the elements to achieve a comeback and continue their journey in the continental tournament.

Lage stated: "Our plan will be similar to the previous two matches against Barcelona, with some slight adjustments in strategy. We are aware of Barcelona's style, which relies on possession, playing deep, high pressing, and individual duels. However, for us, the most important thing is to create opportunities and exploit them better. If we succeed in that, we have a great chance to advance to the next round."

He added: "We feel that we could have won in the previous two matches because we created many opportunities. Now we want to continue in the same manner against Barcelona, which is a strong opponent and has not lost any match in 2025, but we are confident in our ability to win."

He continued: "Playing against Barcelona's advanced defense presents both an opportunity and a challenge. It's true that their defensive line gives us some space, but they also defend their areas well. We must take advantage of any opportunity that arises against them."

He went on: "Raphinha is a very special player; I have known him since he was at Sporting and Lyon, and he performs wonderfully at Barcelona. Who knows? He might be a candidate for the Ballon d'Or in the future."

He also added: "Lamine Yamal is also one of the best players in the world, but we are not focusing on just one player. Barcelona has prominent stars like Lewandowski and Pedri, and I personally value midfield players a lot. We should not forget the role of Szczęsny, who was the best in the first leg."

Lage announced that defender Dal will likely be the expected substitute for the suspended Carreras, saying: "We prepare for every match in the same way. Dal has adapted well to the team and has played in multiple positions, so he will be a ready substitute to compensate for Carreras' absence."

He also did not rule out the possibility of Florentino participating, saying: "Florentino has recovered from his injury, and we will see if he can return to the starting lineup."

Lage concluded his statements by expressing condolences to Barcelona after the passing of Dr. Carles, saying: "I don't know how this event will affect Barcelona's players, but such matters may give them additional motivation. We also have a strong motivation, and we want to qualify so that Ángel Di María, who could not attend due to injury at the age of 37, can break a record in the tournament."