Flick expecting Barca improvement at Benfica after Liga slump

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick is hoping his team can improve against Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday after a string of poor results in La Liga.

The Catalan giants have won just one of their last eight league games, falling behind rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, but by contrast are flying high in Europe.

Barcelona are second in the standings and aiming to sew up qualification for the last 16 in Lisbon.

They played well in recent wins over Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup and Real Betis in the Copa del Rey last 16 to give Flick hope his players have regained their form, despite a frustrating 1-1 league draw at Getafe on Saturday.

“When you see La Liga and the results, it’s not good, 100 percent, there’s nothing to hide, it’s not what we want,” Flick told reporters on Monday.

“But when I see how we played after the (winter) break, it was really good… so I hope tomorrow we’ll see my team playing another style of football.

“I think Benfica as a team always like to play football, they are really great with the ball… and (Angel) Di Maria is one of my favourite players, and he’s doing really good, even at this age,” he added.

Former Real Madrid midfielder Di Maria, 36, is expected to be fit to play after a knock kept him out of Benfica’s 4-0 win against Famalicao last week.

Benfica coach Bruno Lage said he considered Barcelona among the favourites to win the tournament, something the Catalans last managed a decade ago.

“Of course (they’re among the favourites), because of what they are doing and because they are a historic team, a team of great quality,” explained Lage.

“Barca like to have the ball, but you can see the manager’s stamp — they play a more vertical style of football, with more pressing.

“They are a strong opponent, we know that we have a great challenge.”