Barcelona vs Benfica facts

Holders Barcelona, aiming to become the fourth side to retain the UEFA Women's Champions League, begin the defence of the trophy at home to Benfica in a repeat of the clubs' opening group fixture last season.

Barça kicked off their successful campaign last term in emphatic fashion against the Eagles at the Estadi Johan Cruyff, seven Blaugrana players scoring in the 9-0 win that set a new club record for their biggest European victory.

Jonatan Giráldez's side were among the goals again in the return fixture in Lisbon on Matchday 5, booking their place in the last eight with a 6-2 success. Barcelona goalkeeper Sandra Paños also kept out spot kicks from Nycole Raysla and Ana Vitória in the closing stages.

The Blaugrana went on to seal European glory last season with a dramatic second-half comeback in the final against Wolfsburg, winning 3-2 in Eindhoven thanks to Patricia Guijarro's double shortly after half-time and the decisive strike from former Die Wölfinnen attacker Fridolina Rolfö with 20 minutes remaining.

Barça, whose triumph last term made it two Women's Champions League trophies in three seasons, will be aiming to emulate Umeå (2003, 2004), Lyon (2011, 2012 and 2016–20) and Wolfsburg (2013, 2014) in successfully defending the European title.

Benfica, who became the first Portuguese team to reach the last 16 of this competition back when the group stage was introduced in 2021/22, are among seven clubs gearing up for their third Women's Champions League group campaign.

Filipa Patão's side have finished third in both group campaigns to date, their six Group D points last season coming from back-to-back victories against Rosengård (1-0 h, 3-1 a).

As Águias, who sealed their third successive league title last term, made it a hat-trick of group stage appearances with an 11-0 aggregate win in their second-round qualifier against Cypriot title holders Apollon (7-0 a, 4-0 h) after easing past Northern Ireland's Cliftonville (8-1) and Latvian champions SFK Rīga (4-0) in Round 1.

Players to watch

Salma Paralluelo 

The winger hit four goals in the opening 39 minutes of Barça's 8-0 home triumph against Sevilla on 5 November, becoming the first player to score more than three in a Liga F match since October 2022.

Paralluelo, who turns 20 on 13 November, was named Best Young Player as Spain won their first FIFA Women's World Cup in August, finding the net in victories against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals and Sweden in the last four.

The attacker struck three times – including two in the 3-1 final victory against Japan – as Spain lifted the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Costa Rica.

She was also a member of the Spain sides that won the UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship and FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup titles in 2018.

Andrea Falcón 

The 26-year-old has had two spells with Barcelona, first joining the club aged 15 in 2012 before returning in 2019 after three years at Atlético de Madrid.

The midfielder won five league titles and four Copa de la Reina trophies in her time with Barça, also making two substitute appearances during the club's victorious 2020/21 Women's Champions League campaign.

Born in Las Palmas, she also secured a hat-trick of Liga F championships in her three seasons with Atleti.

Falcón signed a three-year contract with As Águias in July, having spent the 2022/23 campaign with Mexican side Club América, where she helped them to a Clausura title.

She scored in each of her first three Benfica appearances, including both first-round qualifiers in this competition.

Key facts

Barcelona

This is Barcelona's third successive group stage appearance.

Their only previous two matches against Portuguese opposition were their two wins against Benfica last season.

Barcelona have won 11 of their 12 group games (L1), including all six at home.

The Spanish side have won 18 and drawn one of their last 19 home Women's Champions League matches at home.

Barcelona have kept eight clean sheets in their last 11 group matches.

The Catalan club have only failed to score in one of their last 31 European matches.

Benfica

Like Barcelona, Benfica are making a third successive group appearance.

The Portuguese club have won all four matches this season in this season's competition, scoring 23 goals and conceding only one.

Benfica have keep three successive clean sheets in the Women's Champions League.

The Lisbon side have also scored in 12 of their last 14 European games.