Prediction: Benfica to win 2-1
Best Odds: 7/1
Benfica and Bayer Leverkusen will face each other in the UEFA Champions League this week. The League Stage game between the Liga Portugal club and the German Bundesliga outfit will be held at Estadio da Luz and is scheduled to kick off at 8pm UK time on Wednesday.
Benfica
Benfica are one of the biggest clubs in Portugal and Europe and are aiming to make a strong impact in the UEFA Champions League. The Portuguese giants will be keen on making it through the League Stage.
With Jose Mourinho now in charge, Benfica have started to turn things around and are currently third in the Portuguese Primeira Liga table with 24 points from 10 matches, four points behind leaders FC Porto. Although Benfica have won four and drawn two of their last six matches, they have lost all three of their Champions League fixtures so far this campaign.
Benfica will head into the UEFA Champions League game against Bayer Leverkusen this week on the back of a 3-0 victory over Guimaraes away from home in the Portuguese Primeira Liga. It came after a 5-0 victory over Arouca at home in the league, which followed a 3-0 loss to Newcastle United at St. James’ Park in the UEFA Champions League.
Team News:
Benfica are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Bayer Leverkusen. Anatoliy Trubin will be in goal and will have Fredrik Aursnes, Tomas Araujo, Nicolas Otamendi and Samuel Dahl in front of him in defence. Richard Rios and Enzo Barrenechea will be the two holding midfielders. Dodi Lukebakio, Georgiy Sudakov and Gianluca Prestianni will be the three attacking midfielders. Vangelis Pavlidis will lead the line for Benfica.
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen are a major club in the Bundesliga who tend to challenge for the title. Die Werkself finished second in the league table last season and are aiming to become the champions of Germany in the 2025-26 campaign.
Kasper Hjulmand’s side, though, are not having a good time. Bayer are fifth in the Bundesliga table at the moment with 17 points from nine matches, as many as 10 points behind leaders and defending champions Bayern Munich. Bayer are struggling in the UEFA Champions League, too, having picked up just two points from their three games so far.
Bayer will head into the UEFA Champions League game against Benfica in Portugal this week on the back of a 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich away from home at the Allianz Arena in the Bundesliga. It came after a 4-2 victory after extra time over SC Paderborn 07 in the DFB-Pokal, which followed a 2-0 win against SC Freiburg at home in the Bundesliga.
Team News:
Bayer Leverkusen are likely to line up in a 5-4-1 formation against Benfica. Mark Flekken will be in goal for the German club and will have Arthur, Jarell Quansah, Loic Bade, Edmond Tapsoba and Jeanuël Belocian in front of him in defence. Claudio Echeverri, Robert Andrich, Aleix Garcia and Ernest Poku will be deployed in midfield. Patrik Schick will lead the line for Bayer.
Key Factors to Consider
- Benfica have lost 12 of 17 previous Champions League meetings with German clubs (W2, D3).
- Bayer Leverkusen beat Benfica 3-1 at home and drew 0-0 away in the 2014-15 Champions League group stage.
- Bayer Leverkusen’s overall record against teams from Portugal reads: P20, W9, D4, L7.
- Benfica have scored 2 goals and conceded 7 goals in 3 UEFA Champions League games this season.
- Bayer Leverkusen have scored 5 goals and conceded 10 goals in 3 UEFA Champions League games this season.
Conclusion
While Benfica have been dire in the UEFA Champions League this season, under the great Jose Mourinho, things are bound to get better at some point. It is very likely that the Portuguese giants will eke out a narrow win against Bayer at home this week.
Prediction: Benfica to win 2-1
Best Odds: 7/1
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