Barcelona sporting director Deco has insisted that the club will not take Benfica lightly in their upcoming Champions League round of 16 tie.
He emphasized the need for thorough preparation to avoid any potential upset, recalling the difficult nature of their previous encounters in the competition.
Softfootball highlights that Deco views the Portuguese side as a formidable opponent despite Barcelona’s status.
The former midfielder noted that Benfica is particularly dangerous when playing at home, making the task even more challenging for the Catalan giants. He stressed that the team must focus entirely on the current hurdle rather than looking ahead to potential future rounds, acknowledging the strength and resilience of their opponents.
Deco explained that past success does not guarantee future results in such a volatile tournament. He stated:
There’s not much to choose now, we’ve already had a tough match against them, in which we suffered a lot. It was a historic comeback. We have to beat them and it will be complicated, they are very strong at home, we can’t think about the quarter-finals.
He also dismissed the idea of having favorable draws, noting that every team in the latter stages is capable of causing damage. Deco added:
In the Champions League there are no favorites like people think. You have to play, try to advance and think game by game.
This mindset reflects the club’s cautious approach to the high-stakes knockout phase.
