Hello and welcome to Eurosport's LIVE text commentary of Barcelona's Champions League Group E crunch match with Benfica. Xavi can ensure his side progress to the last 16 of the competition with victory in his first European game in charge of Blaugrana and effectively consign Benfica to the Europa League in the process. Let's grab the team news ahead of this 20:00 kick-off!
Champions League / Group Stage
Spotify Camp Nou / 23.11.2021
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Live
Live Updates
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Updated 23/11/2021 at 21:55 GMT
- All
- Highlights
End of 2nd Half
FT
Full-time: It ends Barcelona 0-0 Benfica - but dear knows how! Group E won't be decided until matchday six when Barcelona will need to win in Bayern Munich to guarantee their progression! It's advantage Benfica, who host Dynamo Kyiv.
90'+5
Barcelona win a corner... they can't win this now... can they? No, Benfica clear. There's still time for Taarabt to be shown a yellow card!
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Yellow card
A. Taarabt
Benfica
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Yellow Cards1
Fouls1
90'+4
Miss!!! How have Benfica not won this game?! An unbelievable miss here from Seferovic! With the goal gaping, he inexplicably misses the target! Jorge Jesus is on the ground holding his head!
90'+2
Vlachodimos goes into the book for time wasting.
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Yellow card
O. Vlachodimos
Benfica
Saves by Goalkeeper2
Yellow Cards1
Free Kicks9
90'+2
Miss! Depay delivers the corner... Pique has a great chance to win the game for Barcelona but fails to find the target with a header from point-blank range! Ought to do better! It fell to the wrong man!
90'+1
Otamendi has been a rock in Benfica's defence tonight and he makes another superb challenge to put an end to Dembele's run. But Barcelona have a corner!
90'
There will be FOUR minutes of added-time!
88'
Benfica certainly haven't given up on the win - but they just can't get out of their half at the moment.
86'
Dest replaces Lenglet. It's now or never.
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On
S. Dest
FC Barcelona
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Off
C. Lenglet
FC Barcelona
Fouls1
Wide1
Free Kicks3
86'
Araujo hobbles off and is replaced by Eric Garcia.
On
E. García
FC Barcelona
Off
R. Araújo
FC Barcelona
Wide2
Offsides1
Free Kicks2
83'
Goal ruled out! What a delivery from Alba to pick out Araujo at the far post and he makes no mistake with his finish to send the home supporters wild! But their celebrations are cut short - he's a fraction offside! And to make matters worse, Araujo has either pulled a muscle or is suffering from cramp!
81'
But it appears Benfica aren't settling for just a point - on comes Haris Seferovic who replaces Grimaldo. A bold switch from Jorge Jesus!
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On
H. Seferovic
Benfica
Off
Á. Grimaldo
Benfica
Yellow Cards1
Fouls1
Fouls against1
80'
Remember, with a draw, Barcelona would remain second and two points above Benfica going into the last game. That would mean Blaugrana would either have to win in Bayern Munich or hope that Benfica fail to beat Dynamo Kyiv at home to progress to the last 16.
78'
Dembele tries to thread the eye of the needle to pick out De Jong but Vlachodimos is off his line quickly to smother.
75'
It's just not happening for Barcelona at the moment as Gavi is nudged off the ball. They have around 15 minutes to find a much-needed winner.
72'
Barcelona are committing more players forwards in search of the winner and of course that is almost a risk, as here come Benfica on the counter. However, Nunez shows too much of the ball to Araujo, who steals the ball back for the hosts.
70'
Valentino Lazaro is on for Silva.
On
V. Lazaro
Benfica
Off
R. Silva
Benfica
70'
Benfica make another change - Pizzi comes on for Everton.
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On
Pizzi
Benfica
Off
Everton
Benfica
Fouls2
Fouls against1
Corners3
68'
De Jong... no! Dembele makes an immediate impact! With lightning pace, he creates the space for a cross and puts it right on the head of De Jong. But his bullet header from point-blank range is tipped over by Vlachodimos!
66'
It's time for Barcelona to gamble. On comes Ousmane Dembele for Demir.
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On
O. Dembélé
FC Barcelona
Off
Y. Demir
FC Barcelona
Fouls1
Fouls against1
Hit Post / Hit Bar1
Wide2