Barcelona’s hopes of making the Champions League knockout stage hang in the balance after they were held at the Nou Camp by Benfica.
On a frustrating night for Xavi’s side, 18-year-old Yusuf Demir, on loan from Rapid Vienna, hit the crossbar.
Ronald Araujo had a goal disallowed for second-placed Barca, who stay two points ahead of Benfica in third.
Barca’s final group game is away to runaway leaders Bayern Munich while Benfica host Dynamo Kyiv.
Both matches are on 8 December and it promises to be a tense finale for five-time European champions Barca.
While they are now undefeated in their past three group games, Barca have managed just two goals in five Champions League matches this season.
They will drop down to the Europa League if Benfica win their final match and Barca do not win in Germany.
Benfica defended stoically, closing down attacks with a solid five-man defensive line, leaving Barcelona in control of the ball much of the time.
However, the hosts managed just three attempts on target.
Benfica had a great chance to win it at the end through Haris Seferovic but he could not finish.
Demir is the fifth teenager to start for Barcelona in the Champions League this season – following Pedri, Ansu Fati, Gavi and Nico Gonzalez.
Barcelona boss Xavi: “Benfica came for a nil-nil. They knew how to play for it. That’s a big reason why we didn’t score.
“The vital thing is that we generated chances. It’s a matter of time before the chances go in.
“We missed an opportunity there but we just have to keep going – there’s another opportunity coming up in Munich and we just have to take it.”
Benfica boss Jorge Jesus: “We left here with a result that still leaves us dreaming. I keep saying the same thing: Barcelona are one of the best teams in the world and we are competing for qualification with them.
“This should make the fans, players and coach proud – today we were at the level of a great team.”
Line-ups
Barcelona
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1ter Stegen
- 4AraújoSubstituted forGarcíaat 86′minutes
- 3PiquéBooked at 49mins
- 15LengletSubstituted forDestat 86′minutes
- 11DemirSubstituted forDembéléat 66′minutes
- 5Busquets
- 21de Jong
- 18Alba
- 28González Iglesias
- 30Paez Gaviria
- 9Depay
Substitutes
- 2Dest
- 6Puig Martí
- 7Dembélé
- 13Murara Neto
- 14Coutinho
- 17de Jong
- 22Mingueza
- 23Umtiti
- 24García
- 26Peña Sotorres
- 31Balde Martínez
Benfica
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 99VlachodimosBooked at 90mins
- 34Magalhães de Almeida
- 30Otamendi
- 5Vertonghen
- 2Junior
- 28Weigl
- 20João MárioBooked at 49minsSubstituted forTaarabtat 59′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 3GrimaldoBooked at 36minsSubstituted forSeferovicat 81′minutes
- 27Ferreira SilvaSubstituted forLazaroat 70′minutes
- 7Sousa SoaresSubstituted forAfonso Fernandesat 70′minutes
- 15YaremchukSubstituted forNúñezat 59′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Svilar
- 9Núñez
- 11Meité
- 14Seferovic
- 21Afonso Fernandes
- 22Lazaro
- 49Taarabt
- 77Aleixo Leite
- 83Carvalho Fernandes
- 88Matias Ramos
- 91Rodrigues da Silva
- 97Reis Ferreira
- Referee:
- Sergey Karasev
- Attendance:
- 49,572
Live Text
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Match ends, Barcelona 0, Benfica 0.
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Second Half ends, Barcelona 0, Benfica 0.
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Adel Taarabt (Benfica) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Adel Taarabt (Benfica).
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Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Valentino Lazaro.
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Attempt missed. Haris Seferovic (Benfica) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left following a fast break.
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Attempt saved. Haris Seferovic (Benfica) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Darwin Núñez.
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Odysseas Vlachodimos (Benfica) is shown the yellow card.
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Attempt missed. Gerard Piqué (Barcelona) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Memphis Depay with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Nicolás Otamendi.
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Attempt blocked. Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sergio Busquets with a through ball.
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Foul by Gavi (Barcelona).
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Gilberto (Benfica) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Sergiño Dest (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Gilberto (Benfica).
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Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica).
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Substitution, Barcelona. Eric García replaces Ronald Araújo because of an injury.
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Substitution, Barcelona. Sergiño Dest replaces Clément Lenglet.