FC Barcelona 0-0 Benfica LIVE! Champions League result, match stream and latest updates today

FC Barcelona vs Benfica - LIVE!

Xavi takes charge of his Champions League match as Barcelona manager against Benfica at the Nou Camp, and there is no time to waste as he looks to turn the club’s fortunes around.

The Spanish side are already six points behind Bayern Munich in Group E, but it is the battle for second place that will be their focus.

Barcelona currently occupy that spot, but they are only two points ahead of Benfica and so cannot afford any slip-ups tonight.

They were well-beaten in the reverse fixture, losing 3-0 in Portugal and having Eric Garcia sent off late on to round off a miserable night.

Xavi secured a win over the weekend against Espanyol, in his first match in charge of the club, and he will be hoping to provide another positive result and performance for the home fans against Benfica.

Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below

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Barcelona vs Benfica latest news

• MISS! Seferovic fluffs open goal in injury time

• DISALLOWED! Araujo denied by the flag

• WOODWORK! Demir hits the bar

• DISALLOWED! Otamendi strike ruled out

Araujo has his say...

22:41 , Matt Verri

“We had a great game, the attitude was good, we defended well - it was only the goal that was missing. We still have the last game. It’s complicated but not impossible against Bayern.”

Win will do it

22:35 , Matt Verri

What next?

22:26 , Matt Verri

Barcelona travel to face Villarreal this weekend, before hosting Real Betis the week after in La Liga.

Then it’s the big one. Bayern Munich away. December 8.

Destiny is a trip to Munich...

22:09 , Matt Verri

Barcelona thought they’d won it earlier on...

22:06 , Matt Verri

That extraordinary miss...

22:01 , Matt Verri

FULL TIME

21:52 , Matt Verri

It’s somehow finished goalless at the Nou Camp! What a match.

Two goals disallowed, the woodwork hit, and a crazy miss right at the death. Xavi denied on his Champions League return.

Barcelona will go to Munich, and they will most probably need to get something from it.

21:51 , Matt Verri

90+4 mins: HOW HAS HE MISSED?!!! BENFICA HAD TO SCORE.

They had a two-on-one. Nunez did his part perfectly. Seferovic is clean through, dinks it over the goalkeeper, but then somehow misses the open goal. Madness.

21:50 , Matt Verri

90+3 mins: Can Barcelona find one more chance?

Dembele runs at the defence again... poor ball in, Otamendi there to clear.

21:48 , Matt Verri

90+1 mins: BRILLIANT FROM OTAMENDI. He’s probably been the best player on the pitch.

Dembele is very nearly clean through on goal, but Otamendi gets back and on the slide just about gets the ball away.

From the corner, Pique wins the header, and it’s wide. HAS to do better, big chance.

21:47 , Matt Verri

90 mins: Four minutes added on... Barcelona fans are not impressed.

21:46 , Matt Verri

89 mins: Alba clips it into the box, and De Jong very nearly flicks it into the path of Depay. Great run from the midfielder, and very nearly a great assist.

Gavi then fouls Gilberto, and that will waste a few more seconds.

21:45 , Matt Verri

88 mins: It’s the Frenchman. Past one, past two, into the box... past three, but the run just gets away from him, and it’s out of play.

Benfica players need to be so careful flicking out a foot in the box, Dembele is too quick for them.

21:43 , Matt Verri

86 mins: Dest back from injury, on for Lenglet. Barcelona with just over five minutes to find a winner.

If they’re going to get it, it will be with Dembele involved.

21:41 , Matt Verri

84 mins: GOOOOOOOO.... NO!!

Barcelona are off and celebrating, Araujo is delighted... but the linesman’s flag goes up, just as the Barcelona man launches into a knee slide in front of him.

It’s so close. Looks like it is offside though.

21:40 , Matt Verri

83 mins: They cannot live with Dembele!

He roars past two on the right wing, clips a lovely ball to the back post, but nobody is there in a Barcelona shirt. Headed over the bar for a corner.

Taken short... comes to nothing.

21:39 , Matt Verri

82 mins: Seferovic should pass it out wide, but goes for the shot instead and it’s blocked almost immediately. It falls to Pizzi in the box who twists and gets a shot away, but he’s offside.

21:38 , Matt Verri

80 mins: Grimaldo off, Seferovic on for Benfica. That’s a positive change from the visitors... they’re not just settling for a point, it would seem. Two up front.

21:35 , Matt Verri

78 mins: Pressure is building. Dembele very nearly threads a lovely through ball into the path of De Jong, but the Benfica goalkeeper is alert and comes rushing out to gather it.

21:33 , Matt Verri

76 mins: Busquets tries to poke a ball in behind the Benfica defence. Gavi goes to ground as Almeida barges into him, but that’s not a foul.

Frustration starting to grow...

21:31 , Matt Verri

74 mins: Beautiful pass cross-field from Dembele, in behind the Benfica defence. Alba gets there first, but he can’t quite bring it under his control. Gilberto gets back to clear.

21:29 , Matt Verri

72 mins: Benfica break, and it’s three-on-three.

Nunez tries to cut inside, but Pique gets a foot in to clear the danger.

21:28 , Matt Verri

70 mins: Game becoming increasingly frantic. Barcelona know they really do need to find a winner.

Tactic is just to give it to Dembele at every opportunity. Benfica are doubling up on him, but it’s doing little to ease the danger.

21:24 , Matt Verri

67 mins: Well the Frenchman isn’t short of confidence. He beats the defender a couple of times, but decides to try again for a third and is dispossessed.

That’s much better... down the outside this time, stands a ball up, and De Jong’s header is tipped over. Already the Benfica defence are in big trouble whenever Dembele gets it.

21:23 , Matt Verri

65 mins: Demir thinks he’s been fouled right on the edge of the box, but the referee says no. Benfica break, it’s played through to Nunez... he was off balance, and slices an effort high and wide.

Demir off for the hosts, Dembele on. Exciting change for Barcelona.

21:20 , Matt Verri

63 mins: Nunez already giving Pique and Lenglet real problems. He’s too quick for Pique, fires a ball across into the box... none of his teammates could keep up with him, nobody there in the box.

21:17 , Matt Verri

61 mins: Adel Taarabt also on for the visitors... a nice throwback for the Premier League fans.

It’s been an even second half at the Nou Camp. Barcelona’s qualification hopes are right in the balance.

21:16 , Matt Verri

59 mins: Nunez on for Benfica, with their striker Yaremchuk off. He had a huge chance to score with a header in the first-half, but it was straight at Ter Stegen.

21:15 , Matt Verri

57 mins: Biggest chance of the match for Barcelona, and Depay has fluffed his lines.

He was clean through on goal, but didn’t want to take the shot with his left foot. Sold Vertonghen as he cut inside, but it brought the ball back into the path of Otamendi who produced another great piece of defending.

21:13 , Matt Verri

56 mins: Gilberto very lucky to not be booked. Gavi is away on the left touchline, is pulled back by the Benfica defender, but the referee waves the protests away. Not even a free-kick given.

21:11 , Matt Verri

54 mins: Embarrassing from Gilberto, who is rolling around on the floor holding his face.

Replays show Alba put his hands on the Benfica man’s chest as he tried to get the ball back.

21:10 , Matt Verri

53 mins: Demir can be very grateful the offside flag went up.

Alba scoops it over the defence to Gavi, who plays it across the face of goal and Demir takes a swing at the ball with the goal gaping.

Gavi was offside though, so doesn’t matter.

21:08 , Matt Verri

51 mins: Gonzalez very nearly plays it through to Depay, but the Benfica defence are able to intercept.

Visitors definitely pushing higher up the pitch in the second half.

21:06 , Matt Verri

49 mins: Joao Mario into the book, joining his teammate Grimaldo.

Mario was demanding the referee pulled out the yellow card after Pique pulled back Yaremchuk. The official obliged, and then duly showed it to the Benfica man as well. Careful what you wish for...

21:05 , Matt Verri

48 mins: Benfica with the early possession after the break.

Barcelona break though, and it’s brilliant footwork from Gavi. So, so good on the ball. Plays in Depay, but his effort is blocked by Otamendi.

21:02 , Matt Verri

Barcelona kick-us off again, with both sides unchanged for the second period.

21:00 , Matt Verri

As it stands, Barcelona would have to go to Munich in their final group match and get a result. Safe to say that’s something they’d like to avoid having to do...

Players back out for the second-half, underway again shortly.

Goals to come?

20:55 , Matt Verri

Every other match in the Champions League has already had a goal... just this one that remains 0-0.

If it continues with the same amount of action as in the first 45 minutes, you’d fancy there to be at a goal, and maybe a few, in the second half.

Otamendi was off celebrating...

20:49 , Matt Verri

HALF TIME

20:46 , Matt Verri

In fact, that’s it. Barcelona 0-0 Benfica at the break.

The hosts had some really bright moments, and Demir very nearly gave them the lead late in the half, but encouraging signs for Benfica.

Yaremchuk should have scored a header, and Otamendi had a goal ruled out. But it’s still goalless!

20:45 , Matt Verri

45 mins: Yaremchuk holds the ball up well, tries to turn, but Pique kicks straight through him. That will be a free-kick.

Just a minute or so left in the half.

20:43 , Matt Verri

42 mins: Game has slowed down a bit, after a chaotic ten minutes. Benfica really should be ahead with the chances they had.

BARCELONA HIT THE BAR! That was very nearly sensational from Demir. Floats down the right wing, cuts inside, and curls a wonderful effort towards the far corner. Crashes off the bar.

20:39 , Matt Verri

39 mins: More good work from Araujo on the right. Bursts past the defender, fires a low ball in across the face of goal, but Vlachodimos comes out to claim before Depay can tap it home.

20:37 , Matt Verri

37 mins: Barcelona go straight down the over end a win a free-kick. Grimaldo booked for the foul.

Depay with the delivery, but Otamendi is on hand to head it away. End-to-end match now.

20:35 , Matt Verri

35 mins: WHAT A SAVE!

Huge chance for Benfica. Yaremchuk wins the header inside the six-yard box from the corner... Ter Stegen sticks a leg out and saves brilliantly. Striker really had to score though. Busquets deflects follow-up effort behind for a corner.

GOOOAL... no?! Otamendi has whipped in a stunning effort, but it’s been ruled out! Corner went out, the linesman says. Otamendi was off and celebrating!

20:33 , Matt Verri

33 mins: Late lunge from Lenglet, and that gives Benfica the chance to bring their centre-backs forward and put a ball into the box. Quite central, not an ideal angle.

Grimaldo clips a ball straight down the middle, over the defence... Yaremchuk brings it down, but his effort is over. Offside flag goes up.

20:31 , Matt Verri

31 mins: Benfica nearly make them pay.

Gilberto does really well, but decides not to break into the space. Goes for the early ball through to Yaremchuk, but he’s not quick enough and Araujo gets across to cover.

20:29 , Matt Verri

29 mins: Spanish side still pressing. Alba crosses the ball in, Depay can’t quite control it cleanly... left-back was offside anyway.

Xavi’s team need to get the goal while they’re on top here.

20:28 , Matt Verri

27 mins: Barcelona looking really dangerous now. Rapid counter, Gonzalez plays in Alba, and his shot is beaten away by Vlachodimos.

20:27 , Matt Verri

26 mins: Brilliant move from Barcelona!

Busquets with the reverse ball out side to Alba. He crosses it low into the box to Gonzalez, who cushions it first time into the path of Gavi. His effort is a wild one though, and that’s a big chance missed. Offside flag stayed down.

20:24 , Matt Verri

24 mins: Corner Benfica, their first of the match. Everton to take.

Takes it short, and when it eventually comes in De Jong flicks it away. Busquets then wins a free-kick to ease the danger.

20:22 , Matt Verri

22 mins: Gilberto all over Alba, drags him down, and Barcelona will have a dangerous free-kick.

The Spaniard will take it himself, looking to whip it towards the penalty spot. Too much on it, keeper can help it on its way.

20:20 , Matt Verri

19 mins: Benfica try and counter for the first time in a while. Yaremchuk pulls out to the left wing... Pique comes sliding in and clears the danger.

20:18 , Matt Verri

17 mins: Depay played in by Alba and he is clean through on goal. Cuts inside as Almeida comes sliding in, and again, tries to lay if off to Demir, but it’s hacked clear inside the six yard box.

All for nothing, offside flag eventually goes up.

20:15 , Matt Verri

15 mins: Vertonghen gets a good head on the ball to clear away a cross, with Depay loitering behind him.

The Dutchman picks up the ball 30 yards out soon after... turns, shoots from distance. Well over the bar.

20:13 , Matt Verri

13 mins: Araujo gets on the overlap on the right for Barcelona, after he’d initially won the ball on the halfway line.

Gonzalez plays it across to him, but the defender slices his effort wide.

20:12 , Matt Verri

11 mins: Players from both sides go down within ten seconds of each other, after a couple of heavy challenges. Referee waves play on both times.

Benfica really taking their time over every throw-in and goal-kick.

20:09 , Matt Verri

9 mins: Ball over the top again, Demir tries to get on the end of it but can’t quite reach, and shoves over Grimaldo to give away the free-kick in the corner.

20:08 , Matt Verri

7 mins: De Jong getting up the pitch well for Barcelona in the early stages. Looks like a back three most of the time, with Alba flying forward on the left.

Demir cuts in off the right and fires an effort at goal... palmed behind for a corner.

20:05 , Matt Verri

4 mins: Crowd booing Vlachodimos who takes a fair amount of time with the goal-kick... just the 86 minutes left in the match.

Barcelona attack and they have numbers. Depay should really play De Jong in, but he overhits the pass and forces the midfielder wide. Chance goes.

Yaremchuk has Benfica’s first shot... weak, straight at Ter Stegen.

20:02 , Matt Verri

2 mins: Busquets tries to play a ball over the top, but it skips off the turf and into the goalkeeper’s hands. Home side pressing high when they don’t have the ball.

KICK-OFF!

20:00 , Matt Verri

We’re underway at an incredibly rainy Nou Camp!

19:58 , Matt Verri

Champions League anthem done. It’s almost time!

19:55 , Matt Verri

Just over five minutes to go until kick-off. Big match for both teams, and for their hopes of reaching the Champions League knockout stages.

Testing conditions in Spain

19:54 , Matt Verri

Nice night for it...

19:47 , Matt Verri

As it stands

19:37 , Matt Verri

Bayern Munich are beating Dynamo Kyiv 2-1 in the other match in the group, with just a couple of minutes left. That will take them to a perfect 15 points after five matches.

It looks like being a straight shoot-out between Barcelona and Benfica for second. The Spanish side are currently two points ahead, but with a trip to Munich to come in their final match, need to be picking up a win tonight.

Xavi’s thoughts this week

19:26 , Matt Verri

“I see an opportunity, no pressure. Football always give you a rematch. We’re Barca and we’ll go for it. I love challenges like this.

“Talking is easy, we need to show it on the pitch. Against Espanyol we were better. Barca aren’t in a situation to show off but we have reasons to be optimistic. If we win, we’ll qualify. We need to be brave and try.”

Last meeting...

19:15 , Matt Verri

Benfica very much had the better of things when the sides met in Portugal. Barcelona will be hoping it’s a new manager, a new start, and a different result.

Fans are up for it

19:07 , Matt Verri

BENFICA TEAM

18:55 , Matt Verri

Starting XI: Vlachodimos, Gilberto, Otamendi, Vertonghen, Grimaldo, Weigl, Joao Mario, Almeida, Rafa Silva, Everton, Yaremchuk

Subs: Svilar, Helton Leite, Valentino, Ferro, Morato, Meite, Gedson, Taarabt, Pizzi, Darwin, Seferovic, Goncalo Ramos.

BARCELONA TEAM

18:48 , Matt Verri

Starting XI: Ter Stegen, Pique, Araujo, Lenglet, Busquets, De Jong, Nico, Gavi, Demir, Alba, Memphis

Subs: Dest, Puig, Dembele, Neto, Coutinho, De Jong, Mingueza, Umtiti, Garcia, Pena, Balde

Prediction

18:38 , Matt Verri

Benfica have shown in their trouncings at the hands of Bayern Munich that they are unlikely to be a dark horse in this year’s competition, and are perhaps best suited to the Europa League.

Barcelona, meanwhile, are certainly not over their issues but can take confidence from a win in Xavi’s debut and should have enough - with the Camp Nou behind them - to grab the three points that will guarantee their place in the last-16.

Barcelona to win, 2-1.

Barcelona team news

18:33 , Matt Verri

Sergino Dest was able to train on Monday as the club monitor his fitness levels, as well as those of Oscar Mingueza, Sergio Busquets and Nico Gonzalez after they picked up knocks at the weekend.

Sergio Aguero (heart) and Martin Braithwaite (knee) are unavailable, while Ansu Fati and Pedri are both out with thigh problems.

Ousmane Dembele is being monitored after a hamstring injury

How to watch Barcelona vs Benfica

18:25 , Matt Verri

TV channel: Tonight’s match will be televised on BT Sport ESPN, with coverage beginning at 7.45pm.

Live stream: BT Sport subscribers will be able to watch the match online via the website or BT Sport app.

Hello!

18:17 , Matt Verri

Good evening and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Barcelona vs Benfica in the Champions League!

Xavi will be managing his first match in Europe as Barcelona boss, and the Spanish side still have plenty of work to do if they want to secure qualification for the knockout stages.

Benfica won the reverse fixtures 3-0 in Portugal, but a lot has changed since then.

Kick-off at the Nou Camp is at 8pm GMT, but we’ll have all the team news and build-up before then.