Portuguese pals to renew rivalry

Fellow internationals
Benfica's left is the territory of their new sensation, Manuel Fernandes, while Barcelona's right flank is manned by another Portuguese international, Deco. Both were in their usual lively form in the first leg, helping with defensive duties and providing a vital link to attack. Each also came close to scoring. Now they are both gearing up for the challenge of this week's return leg at the Camp Nou.

Clean sheet
Manuel Fernandes said: "The most important thing for us was not to concede any goals at home. It will be a very different match in the second leg as they will play at home in front of their supporters. They will try to take charge of the game from the beginning but the pressure remains on their side, not on ours."

'We are favourites'
Deco does not seem to be feeling that strain, though. "We still are the favourites and to leave the Estádio da Luz with a 0-0 sets us up well for the home game," he said. "It will not be easy but we will try to beat Benfica in Spain."

Meteoric rise
Manuel Fernandes has had a meteoric rise in the last few months, and led his coach Ronald Koeman to exclaim before the first leg: "It's easy to forget he's only 20." But the player seems to take things in his stride, and that includes playing against the team many consider to be the UEFA Champions League favourites.

Camp Nou tactics
"We approach this match like we do any other match even though Barcelona are a great European team," Manuel Fernandes said. "Both sides were unlucky in front of goal [in the first leg] and we missed some good chances, mostly at the end of the game. Barcelona missed some fine opportunities too. I think it was a fair result. I was not so good in the second half because I started to mark [Mark] van Bommel while Petit kept an eye on [Andrés] Iniesta. We will try to defend well in Catalonia and hope that Barcelona make mistakes."

Missed chances
Beto was the Benfica player tasked with marking Deco, and the Portuguese international was impressed. "Beto did a good job stopping our midfield from playing," Deco said. "Sometimes I was able to escape from his marking and I did create some good chances. We must play the same way in the second match. We were better than Benfica and only the goals were missing. I can't remember Barça missing so many opportunities."

Hot reception
As a former FC Porto player, Deco was given a hot reception in the Luz last Tuesday, but it did not faze him. "The boos when I was substituted are perfectly normal," he said. "My past in Portugal is connected with Porto and not with Benfica." But on home soil, with the crowd behind him, Deco fancies his side's chances of reaching the semi-finals. "We created more opportunities than Benfica and we played better," he stated. "This is a sign that we can win the second match."