Benfica 0 - Barcelona 0

Benfica: Moretto; Cardo Rocha, Luisao, Anderson, Léo; Beto, Petit, Manuel Fernandes; Simao, Geovanni (Karagounis 68'), Robert (Miccoli 46'). 4-3-3.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Belletti, Oleguer, Motta, Van Bronckhorst; Deco (Gabri 76'), Van Bommel, Iniesta; Larsson (Giuly 76'), Eto'o, Ronaldinho. 4-3-3.

Goals: None.

Barcelona missed out on the chance to wrap up this tie in the first leg after wasting several clear cut chances before drawing 0-0 at Benfica, but even so they have the upper hand going in to the return fixture next week. With Márquez and Edmilson injured and Puyol suspended, Frank Rijkaard had to cobble a makeshift defence, Motta getting the nod to join Oleguer in the back four rather than B team captain Rodri. But in the end they had little work to do as most of the play took place up at the other end.

The Portuguese defence gifted their visitors a silly free kick early on for what the referee considered was a back pass to the keeper, and Moretto did well to keep out Ronaldinho's shot and then tipped his follow up volley over the bar. Iniesta was the next to try with a weaving run through the defence which ended with a shot just wide of the post, And Van Bommel somehow failed to beat the keeper when he cut through only to fire a shot straight at him with the goal at his mercy.

Ronald Koeman's side were limited to long shots, Simao and Beto shooting straight at Valdés and Fernandes and Petit putting efforts over the top. But Barça continued to create chances, Moretto getting a hand down to make a spectacular stop at point blank range from Eto'o, and then miskicking right to Van Bommel who tried to squeeze the ball in from an acute angle rather than pass to the unmarked Larsson in front of goal.

The introduction of Miccoli at the break gave more spice to Benfica, and the striker was unlucky to be ruled offside as he advanced on goal almost immediately. But the spaniards were still well on top, and they hit the woodwork twice in a minute, Moretto turning a shot from Larsson on to the post and away for a corner, and Motta seeing his header from the resulting kick deflected on to the other post by a defender.

Víctor Valdés did have some work to do in the end though, keeping out an efforts from Miccoli and Simao, and his side were lucky not to give away a couple of penalties in the final minutes, the first when the ball hit Motta on the arm and the second when substitute Gabri brought down Petit. But that would have been too much, and both sides go in to next week's second leg with the scoreline unmoved.