UEFA Champions League: PSV vs. Benfica Preview, Odds, Prediction

Benfica has a minimal advantage against PSV, but the rematch of their UEFA Champions League playoffs takes place in Eindhoven. These two sides are the biggest name at this stage, with both winning the European throne in the past. Benfica heads for the Netherlands with a one-goal edge in its pocket, but knowing how PSV plays at home, the Eagles can’t rely upon that if they want to advance to the next stage. W expect to see fireworks in Eindhoven because neither team wants to play the Europa League, but the most prominent competition on the continent.

Preview

PSV (-110) looked great against Cambuur on Saturday night, beating the guests with 4-1 and solving everything with a dominant display in the opening 45 minutes. All of PSV’s players were at the needed level, and even though Cambuur isn’t the kind of a team that could be compared to Benfica, we still have to praise how Roger Schmidt’s boys played.

This was their first home game following four straight outings, and in all three competitive matches at Philips Stadium, PSV scored 12 goals in total, while conceding only two. They humiliated Galatasaray 5-1, then beat Midtjylland 3-0, and now smash Cambuur.

Schmidt sometimes sets up conservative tactics when playing on the road, waiting for the rivals to come out and then striking from the counterattack. However, it is a completely different story at home, with the Dutch team constantly dictating the tempo and attacking.

Benfica (+250) has problems with injured players, but they keep on winning, as if nothing bothers them. Counting in the preseason games, the Eagles played 13 games, winning 11 and recording only two draws.

Currently, they are on a six-match winning streak, and all of those games ended with a moderate efficiency, meaning 2 or 3 goals.

The Eagles have a very solid defense, that conceded two goals in six competitive games. It is something that we didn’t witness in the past with Benfica, who usually preferred to break the rivals through extremely intense pressure and attack.

Latest News

Maximiliano Romero, Maxime Delanghe, Vincent Muller, and Richard Legdezma won’t be in the protocol for the hosts.

Darwin Nunez is out for a long time, and he will be. Ferro won’t play, Rodrigo Pinho too, while the two arguably biggest names in the team, Haris Seferovic and Jan Vertongen, have to skip this match as well.

Head to Head Matches

Benfica had a 2-0 lead back in Lisbon, as Silva and Weigl scored. But Gakpo decreased the result in the 51st minute, handing a solid position for his team before the rematch. There were a few solid chances on both ends until the final whistle, but no more goals.

Prediction

Don’t be too hesitant to listen to us here, even though many of you won’t. PSV is in better shape, and the Dutch team showed that they could outplay Benfica already in the first event. The Eagles have better results when looking at the stats, but we are highly skeptical that they can survive Philips Stadium. PSV is a beast at home.

Pick: PSV Wins

Here is the preview for the match between Ludogorets and Malmo.