Benfica sweating over the availability of veteran talisman for Barcelona encounter | OneFootball

Barcelona have received a significant boost ahead of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash, as Benfica might be forced to play without one of their most influential players.

Reports from Mundo Deportivo indicate that Angel Di Maria, the experienced Argentine forward, is struggling to recover in time for the first leg.

His absence could be a major setback for the Portuguese side, given his role as a leader and primary attacking threat in their squad.

What happened to Di Maria?

Di Maria suffered a muscle injury in his left thigh during Benfica’s Champions League play-off tie against Monaco.

Although he has been making efforts to return by training with his teammates, the latest updates suggest that his recovery is not progressing fast enough.

At this stage, it appears unlikely that he will be included in the squad for the first leg. If Di Maria is ruled out, he will be joining a growing list of Benfica players already unavailable for selection.

Angel Di Maria is likely to miss the Barcelona clash. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

The Portuguese club is also missing Alexander Bah, Renato Sanches, Manu Silva, and Tiago Gouveia, all of whom have been confirmed as absentees for the crucial encounter against Barcelona.

Advantage Barcelona

For Barcelona, this development is nothing short of an advantage. Di Maria’s absence would mean that Benfica lose not only a world-class player but also a highly experienced figure who thrives in big matches.

With his ability to unlock defences and create goal-scoring opportunities, his unavailability would certainly limit Benfica’s attacking options.

However, not everything is bad news for the Portuguese side. There are reports that Florentino Luis, an important piece in their midfield, could return in time for the fixture.

The defensive midfielder has been recovering well from his own muscle issue and might even start.

Even if Luis manages to return, Barcelona will still have the upper hand. Facing a weakened Benfica side at the Estadio da Luz presents a golden opportunity for the Catalan club to take control of the tie early on.