Horse Racing analyst Will Smith has had a good look at all this weekend's ante-post markets, and provides a 7/1 EW selection in the Grade 2 novices' chase at Newbury on Friday.
Date published: November 28, 2023
In this Champions League clash, Benfica aim to secure their first points in Group D as they welcome Real Sociedad to Estadio da Luz on Tuesday. Having faced defeats against Red Bull Salzburg and Inter Milan, the Portuguese side find themselves in a challenging position, whereas the La Liga outfit has managed to secure maximum points on matchday two in Austria. In this comprehensive preview, we’ll delve into the team news, possible lineups, and predictions for this pivotal encounter.
| Benfica vs Real Sociedad Betting Tips | ||
|---|---|---|
| Selection | Odds | Bookie |
| Benfica | 6/5 |  |
| 2-1 | 17/2 |  |
Benfica, initially touted to progress from their Champions League group, currently find themselves at the bottom of the standings. They were dealt a shock defeat by 10-man Salzburg in Portugal on matchday one, followed by another loss at San Siro, putting them in a precarious situation. With just four points separating the two teams, Benfica, the defending Primeira Liga champions, have an opportunity to close the gap to one point with a victory, provided Inter Milan secures maximum points against Salzburg in the other Group D fixture on Tuesday.
The Eagles’ eight-game unbeaten group stage run against the Austrian side was halted on matchday one, and their ten-game undefeated away run in Europe was snapped by the Nerazzurri. Roger Schmidt’s side will be eager to showcase a different performance and secure points on matchday three, especially after their convincing 4-1 win against Lusitania in Taca de Portugal action.
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On the other hand, Real Sociedad won’t be pushovers, bolstered by their 2-0 victory over Salzburg last time out. Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Brais Mendez in the opening 30 minutes set the stage for their triumph, which marked their first Champions League group-stage victory since 2003. They currently share the top spot with Inter after two games and are determined to maintain their unbeaten run in this season’s competition.
While their recent unconvincing 1-0 victory over Real Mallorca may not inspire much optimism, La Real’s ambition to progress from Group D should fuel their determination against Benfica.
Benfica will miss the services of Angel Di Maria and Alexander Bah, who are not expected to return from their injuries until November. This means Roger Schmidt must do without a potential match-winner and a key defender. Fredrik Aursnes is likely to fill in at right-back to replace Bah, with the team expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Real Sociedad faces a few doubts, with Andre Silva, Alvaro Odriozola, and Kieran Tierney touch-and-go due to muscle issues. Martin Merquelanz is ruled out with a knee injury for La Real, who are likely to stick with their 4-4-2 formation in Lisbon.
Benfica Possible Starting Lineup:
Real Sociedad Possible Starting Lineup:
With Benfica’s Group D standing on the brink, the Portuguese giants are expected to pull off a crucial victory against Real Sociedad. This result would significantly reduce the deficit to the current joint group leaders to just one point, making it a pivotal encounter.
Prediction: Benfica 2-1 Real Sociedad
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Horse Racing analyst Will Smith has had a good look at all this weekend's ante-post markets, and provides a 7/1 EW selection in the Grade 2 novices' chase at Newbury on Friday.
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