Champions League round of 16 power rankings
By James Dudko
15. Benfica
Benfica will be underdogs when they host Borussia Dortmund in the first leg. Yet the Eagles shouldn’t be overlooked easily.
After all, Portugal’s most celebrated club are a side with ample experience in European competitions. Forwards Jonas and Kostas Mitroglou always pose a threat.
Still, there’s no denying the Reds stumbled their way through Group B, taking just eight points from six matches against Napoli, Besiktas and Dynamo Kyiv.
They may find it tough to stay with a Dortmund side possessing arguably the deepest attacking talent in the competition, led by striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Benfica are a point clear of Porto at the top of the Portuguese Primeira Liga, but have lost two of their last four in all competitions. If there’s one thing going for the Eagles it’s that Dortmund are struggling through a down period of their own.
Then again, the German side have saved their best soccer for the Champions League this season.