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Barcelona could not seal their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League as they were held by Benfica at the Camp Nou. The Catalan side were clearly the better side yet endured a frustrating night which ended in a goalless draw.
A win was all Barcelona needed to qualify from the group stages of the UEFA Champions League. Now they have to secure a positive result from Bayern Munich in Germany. Or else they have to hope that Benfica draw or lose against Dynamo Kyiv on the last matchday of the group stages.
The encounter against Benfica was the second game of Xavi-Era, which saw Blaugrana come close to scoring numerous times. Yusuf Demir and Jordi Alba both went close for Barcelona with Demir hitting the crossbar. Meanwhile Ronald Araujo's goal was disallowed in the early stages of the game.
Benfica had a golden chance for glory at the end but Haris Seferovic failed to find the net. The Portuguese team saw little of the ball but were organized with a five-man defense and ultimately secured a point at the Nou Camp.
On that note, let's take a look at
5 Barcelona players who underperformed against Benfica
#5 Clement Lenglet
Barcelona centre-back Clement Lenglet definitely did his job, keeping the Benfica forwards quiet all night. The 26-year-old made two crucial interceptions for the Catalan giants. But he was unable to provide the kind of distribution from defense like his compatriots.
With Eric Garcia and Oscar Mingueza impressing in their roles, this was a rare chance for Lenglet to shine in a three-man backline. Despite his steady defending, the Frenchman was unable to offer calmness and composure at the back. The defender was deservingly substituted as he made way for Sergino Dest with four minutes to go.
#4 Frenkie de Jong
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is one of the best when he is in the mood. Unfortunately, it was a frustrating night for a player of his caliber. He failed to pull the strings or make any solid impact from central midfield.
De Jong failed to dominate proceedings, cutting a frustrating figure against Benfica. The determined Portuguese side were efficient in cutting the passing lanes off. They did not offer much space for the Dutch midfielder throughout the game.
De Jong failed to find any gaps in Benfica's defense with his passes and movements strictly followed by opposition defenders. Overall, it was a disappointing night for the Dutchman, who had just one shot at goal without much success.
#3 Gavi
A name on the list which might divide opinion but Barcelona prodigy Gavi failed to keep up with his lofty standards. It might be too harsh on the 17-year-old. But he was unable to dislodge defensive barriers and unlock Benfica's organized backline with his caliber.
Gavi had hoped to be the creative outlet against Benfica but the defenders did not allow him to create an opening. The Spaniard had an extremely high work rate, with his runs and high press often causing trouble for Benfica.
Gavi's two shots did not hit the target, which gave a perfect representation of last night's clash. Nothing eventually went the youngster's way despite his energy and enthusiasm on the ball.
#2 Jordi Alba
Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba has a reputation for being offensively astute, especially with his link-up play with former Blaugrana star Lionel Messi. However, the veteran defender was far from convincing against Benfica. He did not provide sufficient spark for the Catalan giants on either end.
Alba was operating more as an offensive wing-back than a defensive full-back last night. The Spaniard did force a save from the Benfica goalkeeper in the first-half, which remains his only highlight of the match. He is known for his breathtaking runs from the left but opposition defenders had an easy night against him.
Alba did not provide ample quality in a match where he was needed more for his offensive output. The 32-year-old operated mainly as a winger. But he failed to trouble Benfica's rigid defense and failed to make any noises in the final third.
#1 Memphis Depay
Barcelona winger Memphis Depay is certainly one of the best in the business. The Dutchman scored the solitary goal against Espanyol to ensure Blaugrana's victory in Xavi's first game in charge. However, he was extremely poor against Benfica and made life easy for opposition defenders last night.
Depay was expected to lead Barcelona's attack due to his exploits in La Liga. Unfortunately, he failed to live up to the billing and offered nothing in the final third except his link-up play. However, the forward did manage to create two chances but failed to time his passes right for conversion.
It goes without saying that Depay had a disappointing night, failing to break the opposition's defensive structure. He takes top spot among the poor performers against Benfica on the fifth matchday of the Champions League.
