Despite being separated by more than 12 positions, Benfica and Barcelona are just 5 points apart. Both teams are vying for a spot in the Champions League top 8, and a victory here would significantly boost their chances. With the league phase nearing its end, the stakes are high, and every mistake could prove costly.
Benfica Team News
Benfica currently finds itself in the middle of the pack in the Champions League group stage. With their current points tally, they face a critical juncture — they could either drop out of the top 24 or secure a spot among the top 8 teams that will advance to the next round. The outcome is in Benfica’s hands, but their recent form has been underwhelming, having won just one of their last four Champions League matches. Moreover, Benfica has failed to win their last two home games in the competition, including a disappointing 1-3 loss to Feyenoord. Generally speaking, their home fixtures have been high-scoring, with three matches featuring over 2.5 goals and two in which Benfica scored themselves. Overall, three of their last five Champions League games have seen more than 2.5 goals.
Barcelona Team News
Barcelona’s recent weeks have been nothing short of thrilling. The Blaugrana claimed the Super Cup after a commanding 2-5 victory over bitter rivals Real Madrid. The team also dealt with significant concerns surrounding Dani Olmo’s eligibility, but those issues are now behind them. With that settled, the focus shifts to securing a sixth consecutive win in the Champions League. Barcelona remains one of the top contenders for a spot in the Champions League top 8, and they are on track to achieve that goal. Notably, all of their last five tournament matches have produced over 2.5 goals. Barcelona’s away fixtures in this edition have shown a similar pattern—each match featured at least 2.5 goals, and the team has yet to keep a clean sheet in any of them.
Head-to-Head-Games
Benfica and Barcelona last faced each other in the 2021 Champions League season. In Portugal, Benfica claimed a dominant 3-0 victory over Barcelona, while the return leg in Spain ended in a 0-0 draw. Overall, Barcelona have failed to win any of their last three encounters with Benfica, with their most recent victory over the Portuguese side dating back to 2012.
Benfica – Barcelona Betting Prediction
Considering the high stakes of this game for both teams and their overall Champions League form, I would predict over 2.5 goals and both teams to score. Barcelona’s matches have been consistently high-scoring, and on their travels, they have struggled to keep clean sheets. Benfica’s games have also featured plenty of goals, with the team generally finding the back of the net at home. Given both teams’ attacking capabilities and defensive vulnerabilities, I expect a game filled with goals, as both sides have demonstrated they are capable of scoring while also conceding.
Betting Tip: Over 2.5 Goals & Both Teams To Score: Yes
Bookmaker: Sportsbet.io
Odds: 1.64
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