Deco, the director of Barcelona, responds to the UCL Round of 16 draw against Benfica. “We endured a significant amount of hardship.”

Deco, the director of Barcelona, responds to the UCL Round of 16 draw against Benfica. “We endured a significant amount of hardship.”

In Nyom, the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 draw was conducted earlier today. FC Barcelona will compete against SL Benfica for a berth in the quarterfinals.

In the league phase of the tournament, the two teams had already met. Barça secured a historic 5-4 comeback victory at Estadio da Luz, due to a stoppage-time goal from Raphinha. The Blaugrana avoided a more challenging draw against PSG in the Round of 16 and have a relatively straightforward path to the semi-finals.

If they defeat Benfica, they will face either Borussia Dortmund or Lille in the quarter-finals. Deco’s initial remarks Deco, the sporting director of Barcelona, addressed Movistar regarding his anticipated encounter with Benfica during his attendance at the Nyom draw today.

The Portuguese asserted that, despite their decision to forgo PSG, the fixture would be challenging due to the Catalans’ previous defeat at Estadio da Luz. “Look, I believe that there is not a lot of options at this time. It is true that PSG and Benfica are both in a great place,” he observed.

“We have already encountered Benfica, and it was a challenging match in which we endured significant hardships. Despite this, we managed to achieve a historic comeback.

However, we could have easily lost the match due to Benfica’s superiority.” In regards to Barcelona’s potential to win the Champions League, Deco stated, “The opportunities are present; however, we must remain focused on each match.” He continued, ”

The draw has placed us on this trajectory; our initial objective is to defeat Benfica and attempt to qualify.” “The atmosphere will be complex, and the match will be challenging, particularly in light of the recent outcome. I believe that Benfica is a formidable team at home. Therefore, we must concentrate on the first match against Benfica and then assess the situation.

” Deco responded to the question of whether he believes the team benefits from knowing who they could face in the subsequent stages of the Champions League as a result of the bracket: “Ultimately, there are no such calculations in the Champions League.” For instance, during the previous season,

PSG, who were among my favourites, were eliminated early in the game against a team that was regarded as the weakest. It was not anticipated that Dortmund would advance to the final. “There are no such expectations in the Champions League.” The teams are all strong in various aspects, as those who are well-versed in football and know the teams well can attest.