Benfica hosts PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of the Champions League qualification final. The match will be played on Wednesday, August 18th at Estádio da Luz (Lisbon)
Benfica took 3rd place in the last Portuguese Championship, so the team began their performance with the 3rd qualifying round in the Champions League. Spartak Moscow did not show proper resistance to Benfica, and the Portuguese club won both matches with the same score of 2-0. On August 4, the teams played their first game in Moscow. In the first half, Benfica had more possession of the ball (54% vs 46%), but the team did not benefit significantly from this. In the second half, the Eagles increased the pressure on the opponent. Benfica had even more possession of the ball (66% vs 34%) and more often threatened the opponent's goal (4-1 in terms of shots on target). Spartak could not stand the pressure and conceded twice from Rafael Silva and Gilberto. On August 10, Spartak and Benfica played a return match in Portugal. Benfica had more control of the ball (69% vs 31%), but the Eagles did not score again in the first half. In the 58th minute, midfielder João Mario opened the scoring, and Spartak defender Samuel Gigot sent the ball into his own net in the 92nd minute.
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PSV finished second in the last Dutch Eredivisie, so the team started their Champions League performance in the second qualifying round. On July 21, PSV confidently beat Turkish Galatasaray with a score of 5-1. Eran Zahavi scored a hat-trick, and Mario Gotze scored a double. In the return match in Turkey, the Red-Whites won 1-2 and secured the promotion to the third qualifying round. On August 3, PSV played against Danish Midtjylland in the first home leg of the Champions League qualification semifinals. Even before the break, the home team scored three unanswered goals and practically removed all questions about the promotion to the next round. The Danes never hit the opponents’ target and did not create a single clear scoring chance. In the return match in Denmark, PSV won again. Bruma scored the only goal in the 92nd minute.
Both teams have good chances to score in the upcoming game. Benfica scored in all four official games this season (at least twice in each game). In 18 of their last 19 home games, the Eagles have upset the opponent’s goalkeeper at least once. I think that even despite the injury of the leading striker Haris Seferovic, the hosts will have chances to score at least one goal. PSV also has good chances to score at least one goal away. Eran Zahavi, Mario Gotze, and Chukwunonso Madueke are ready to play. The Red-Whites have scored nine goals in their last four away matches, averaging 2.25 goals per game.
Prediction for the match: Both teams to score — yes
