Argentinian forward Ángel Di María will be available for the match between Benfica and Barcelona in the Champions League round of 16. The priority of the Benfica coaching staff has always been to ensure that Di María arrives in optimal condition for the return match. The first leg is scheduled for Wednesday, March 5, in Lisbon at 5:00 PM (Argentina time), while the return match will take place on Tuesday, March 11, at the Estadio Olímpico Lluís Companys in Barcelona.
Di María is expected to participate in the return match and to be a fundamental pillar for the Portuguese team. Benfica's coach, Bruno Lage, confirmed the player's absence after he was unable to train with his teammates in the last session prior to the match. Di María has been dealing with an injury since early February when he felt discomfort during a Liga Portugal match against Estrela Amadora.
Despite attempting to return during the Champions League playoffs against Monaco, Di María felt discomfort again, complicating his recovery. In this regard, the player shared a message on his social media expressing his determination to overcome this obstacle: 'What I'm experiencing is just another setback in my life, another stone in the middle of my career.'
