Benfica host Basel in the Champions League next week, with the home side looking to avoid a whitewash in Group A. The home side have lost all five of their European encounters so far this season, with opponents Basel hoping to make it through to the knockout phase of the competition with a positive result in Lisbon.
Champions League – Estádio da Luz, Lisbon – Tuesday 5th December – 19:45 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 8 at PaddyPower |
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Benfica Lisboa
FC BaselMatch Preview
Despite having nothing to play for in Group A of the Champions League, Benfica will be looking to give their supporters something to cheer about when they take on Swiss side Basel at the Estadio da Luz. Manager Rui Vitoria is under pressure after a run of five consecutive defeats in Europe’s premier club competition, however with their opponents having defeated giants Manchester United last time out, many are predicting a close encounter between the two teams. For those still unsure of who to back, be sure to check out our top betting tip below. However, let’s first take a closer look at the two teams, starting with the home side.
Benfica Team News & Form
Benfica come into this match off the back of a disappointing 2-0 defeat to CSKA Moscow in Russia, their fifth loss in as many European matches this season. Having scored just one goal in such matches, the reigning Portuguese champions are perhaps the underdogs for their clash with Basel, despite being the home side. Their domestic form has been impressive however, with their 6-0 win over Setubal over the weekend leaving them just three points behind league leaders Porto. The likes of Pizzi, Douglas and Alex Grimaldo have been among their most impressive players so far this season, with the trio expected to line up against Basel.
Basel Team News & Form
Swiss giants Basel followed up their famous victory over Manchester United last week with a domestic win over FC Luzern, leaving them second in the Super League standings. Midfielder Michael Lang scored their late winner over United, while the likes of Renato Steffan and Dimitri Oberlin are likely to be major threats to the Benfica back line next week. Manager Raphaël Wicky is gaining quite the reputation as a result of his teams performances of late, with a potential win over Benfica in Portugal perhaps being the most impressive of all.
Head to Head
Basel demolished Benfica 5-0 earlier on in the season, which was the Swiss giants first ever competitive win over the Portuguese side. The two teams last met in the Champions League back in 2011, where Benfica won 2-0 in Switzerland, before recording a draw in front of their home fans.
Betting Odds and Predictions
Despite being the home team, Benfica’s results to date mean that it probably comes as little surprise that they are the underdogs for victory with the majority of bookmakers. The hosts can be backed at odds of 21/10 with William Hill, while those looking to bet on an away win for Basel can take advantage of 13/5 odds with PaddyPower.
Top Betting Tip
However, our top betting tip for the match is to bet on both teams scoring during the 90 minutes in Portugal next week, which can be found at best odds of 4/6 with Ladbrokes.