Benfica vs Feyenoord: Match Preview & predictions
Benfica vs Feyenoord: Match Preview & predictions. Benfica have recorded 100% wins in their two Champions League league phase games so far and they would love to continue with that, when they take on Feyenoord next in the competition on Wednesday night.
After grinding out a victory in Belgrade on Matchday 1, Benfica turned on the style at home as they cruised past Atletico Madrid 4-0 before the October break. Bruno Lage‘s side dazzled in that triumph, completely stifling their seasoned visitors before running up the score in the second half.
They’ve been faultless under Lage so far, having parted ways with Roger Schmidt at the start of the season, but they’ve got plenty of work to do if they’re to deny Lisbon rivals Sporting CP a back-to-back Primeira Liga titles.
Feyenoord were 4-0 behind to Bayer Leverkusen at half-time of their league phase opener in what was a chastening defeat for the Dutch side, but they however responded with a chaotic 3-2 victory at Girona on Matchday 2.
Wednesday’s visitors are still unbeaten in the Eredivisie through eight games, but Brian Friske’s side are already 11 points adrift of league leaders PSV Eindhoven, having drawn half of their encounters. Feyenoord head into this one five games unbeaten.
Check out our guide to Wednesday’s Champions League clash in Lisbon.
What time does Benfica vs Feyenoord kick-off?
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Stadium: Estadio do SL Benfica
Date: Wednesday 23 October
Kick-off Time: 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT
Referee: Halil Umut Meler (TUR)
VAR: David Coote (ENG)
Benfica vs Feyenoord H2H Record (All Games)
Benfica: 2 wins
Feyenoord: 1 win
Draws: 1
Last meeting: Benfica 5-1 Feyenoord (22 March 1972) – European Cup
Benfica team news;
Bruno Lage made wholesale changes to his starting XI for Saturday’s cup victory at Pevidem, and we should see a return of the manager’s strongest lineup for Feyenoord’s visit.
The hosts are likely to be without Renato Sanches due to a muscle injury and Tiago Gouveia because of a shoulder issue.
Angel Di Maria is a shoo-in to start down the right flank and the veteran will join Vangelis Pavlidis, who scored twice against England to inspire a historic victory for Greece at Wembley, and the red-hot Kerem Akturkoglu in the frontline.
Benfica predicted lineup vs Feyenoord
Benfica lineup (4-3-3): Trubin; Bah, Antonio Silva, Otamendi, Carreras; Aursnes, Luis, Kokcu; Di Maria, Pavlidis, Akturkoglu.
Feyenoord team news;
There was no room for rest at the weekend as Feyenoord dispatched Go Ahead Eagles 5-1 in the Eredivisie.
The visitors’ injury list is considerable, with Quilindschy Hartman and Calvin Stengs among their significant absences for Wednesday’s game. Feyenoord were also dealt a big blow last month when leading scorer from last season Santiago Gimenez succumbed to a hip injury.
Bart Nieuwkoop has a chance of returning in midweek, but he’s unlikely to start.
Feyenoord predicted lineup vs Benfica
Feyenoord lineup (4-3-3): Wellenreuther; Lotomba, Beelen, Hancko, Bueno; Milambo, Hwang, Timber; Osman, Ueda, Igor Paixao.
Benfica vs Feyenoord score prediction;
Feyenoord have so far mitigated the absences of key players pretty well, but this is their biggest test since they were put to the sword by Bayer Leverkusen on Matchday 1.
It hasn’t taken Lage long to imprint his principles onto this Benfica team, and their 4-0 rout of Atletico Madrid last time out showed they’re a side to be reckoned with in this competition.
This is a Benfica outfit with tidy balance and a firing confident frontline. Expect them to secure all three points with their core largely fresh having had the weekend off.
Prediction: Benfica 3-1 Feyenoord
