Benfica vs Feyenoord Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Champions League | League Phase

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Benfica have been formidable on their own patch all season so far and victory over Feyenoord would make it six wins from six at home in all competitions across the 2024-25 campaign.

KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Wednesday October 23rd 2024: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm

HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TNT Sports 8 / US – CBS Sports

HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+

BENFICA PREVIEW: FIRING ON ALL FRONTS UNDER FLICK

You have to go back to almost exactly a year ago for when Benfica last tasted defeat at home in all competitions. That was a Champions League group stage match against Real Sociedad. Since then, they’ve been excellent on home soil and their opponents will need to come up with something special in order to beat them.

A thumping 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid served as a statement to their league phase competitors, maintaining Benfica’s 100% record so far in this season’s tournament, with two wins from two. This serves as an excellent opportunity to extend that run.

FEYENOORD PREVIEW: CRUCIAL WIN AT GIRONA KICKSTARTS CAMPAIGN

Feyenoord desperately needed three points against Girona on the back of being heavily beaten at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen in their first match and three points they got, winning 2-3 in Spain. A thrilling affair ended with Feyenoord edging past their opponents, which they’ll hope can act as a springboard moving forwards.

Since their last Champions League fixture, Feyenoord have flexed their muscles in the Eredivisie, beating Twente by two goals to one before thrashing Go Ahead Eagles 1-5 away from home, a match which saw five different Feyenoord goalscorers.

BENFICA TEAM NEWS: GOUVEIA AND PRESTIANNI OUT

Benfica will be without two players for the visit of Feyenoord, but still boast a formidable squad. Expect a front three with Di Maria and Akturkoglu flanking Pavlidis up top, whilst Jan-Niklas Beste could earn a rare start at left-back.

PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Trubin; Bah, Araujo, Otamendi, Beste; Florentino, Aursnes, Kokcu; Akturkoglu, Pavlidis, Di Maria

UNAVAILABLE: Gouveia (shoulder), Prestianni (ankle)

QUESTIONABLE:

FEYENOORD TEAM NEWS: STAR STRIKER GIMENEZ STILL MISSING

Feyenoord will once again have to do without Mexican forward Santiago Gimenez, who remains out through injury. Also missing for the visitors is right-back Bart Nieuwkoop, whose leg is still injured.

PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Wellenreuther; Lotomba, Trauner, Hancko, Bueno; Timber, Hwang, Milambo; Ivanusec, Ueda, Paixao

UNAVAILABLE: Gimenez (Injured), Nieuwkoop (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE:

KEY STATS

• Benfica have lost only one of their last ten UEFA competition matches (W6 D3).
• Benfica have lost only one of their last 18 UEFA competition matches against Dutch teams (W9 D8).
• Benfica have won seven and drawn two of their last nine UEFA competition matches at home against Dutch teams.
• Feyenoord have won only one of their last eight UEFA competition matches against Portuguese teams (D3 L4).
• Feyenoord have lost six and drawn one of their previous seven UEFA competition matches away from home against Portuguese teams.
• Feyenoord are aiming to win successive away matches in the UEFA Champions League after ending a run of ten consecutive defeats in the competition (including qualifying) with their 3-2 victory at Girona on Matchday 2.

BENFICA VS FEYENOORD PREDICTION

When taking into account the home form of Benfica and how strong the Portuguese giants looked against Atletico Madrid, the likelihood is that they will dominate the majority of this contest. Whilst Feyenoord could threaten, Benfica’s quality should ultimately tell in the end and with momentum in their favour, they are well worth backing to make it three victories from three across the league phase.

BENFICA VS FEYENOORD TIP: BENFICA TO WIN