Barcelona's strong position in the Champions League could allow Hansi Flick to tinker with his team in Lisbon on Tuesday night.
Barca have won five straight in the league phase and sit only behind Liverpool in the 32-team table. A 3-2 win at Borussia Dortmund last month all but secured their place in the top-eight and last 16.
Flick would've been thrilled to have ticked off Getafe away on his 2024/25 calendar, but a 1-1 draw in the capital means Barca's LaLiga title hopes took further damage.
His team have starred on the continental stage this season, and here's the team the German manager could pick to face Benfica on Tuesday.
Barcelona predicted lineup vs Benfica (4-2-3-1)
GK: Inaki Pena - There was a start for Wojciech Szczesny in the Supercopa semi-final, but Pena has since assumed starting duties in Marc-Andre ter Stegen's absence.
RB: Jules Kounde - Barca's full-backs have been flying in recent outings, with Kounde finding the back of the net again at the weekend.
CB: Ronald Araujo - The skipper has returned to the fold at the start of the new year with Inigo Martinez out injured.
CB: Andreas Christensen - 17-year-old Pau Cubarsi has played a lot of football and it'd be smart of Flick to give him a rest here. The German can once again call upon Christensen after a long spell out.
LB: Alejandro Balde - Balde has enjoyed an upsurge in form as of late, re-establishing himself as a key figure in this team after a stop-start opening to 2024/25. The left-back, who had to overcome racist abuse at Getafe over the weekend, will be tasked with slowing down Kerem Akturkoglu on Tuesday.
CM: Marc Casado - The midfielder is rarely withdrawn, so some suspected an injury when Flick took him off at the weekend. That wasn't the case, however, and Casado will likely retain his place.
CM: Frenkie de Jong - Pedri's fitness vulnerabilities have stayed away this season, and there's no need for Flick to run him into the ground by starting him again. De Jong is ready to come back in.
RM: Fermin Lopez - Barca are well stocked in creative positions and Flick must be sensible over his persistent (but understandable) utilisation of Lamine Yamal. With Kounde marauding upfield, Fermin could be used wide right but have the freedom to operate centrally.
AM: Gavi - Dani Olmo would've come back into the XI hadn't he picked up a muscle injury at Getafe, thus allowing Gavi to retain his spot in the number ten role.
LM: Ferran Torres - Raphinha has been nothing short of outstanding this season, but Flick has a useful alternative in Ferran. The versatile forward scored twice off the bench in Dortmund to set up their 3-2 win.
ST: Robert Lewandowski - The Polish international doesn't need another 90 minutes under his belt, but Flick has rarely taken him out of his team this season. Lewandowski leads the Barca scoring charts in this competition having bagged seven times in six outings.
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