Benfica – Real Sociedad : Preview & Prediction
Quarter-finalists in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) 2022-23, Benfica are struggling to qualify for the knockout stages of this year’s edition after losing their first two matches in Group D without scoring a goal. The Lisbon side’s coach Roger Schmidt needs to get his team to perform in the top continental competition as well as they are doing domestically. A 4-1 away win over Lusitania last Friday (3rd round of the Portuguese Cup), Benfica have now won eight games on home soil.
The Eagles, who finished top of Group H last season ahead of PSG and Juventus, head into their matchday 3 clash with Real Sociedad with no margin for error, having won just two of their last 19 matches against Spanish sides (G2, E8, P9). It is time for a club that has played in the UCL in 13 of the last 14 seasons.
In contrast, Real Sociedad are in the UCL for the third time in their history and the first time in ten seasons, but the San Sebastian outfit have had no trouble adapting to the level of play of Europe’s elite after their long absence. Imanol Alguacil’s side lead Group D with four points, showing how far a team that finished bottom of Group A in the 2013-14 UCL with just one point has progressed. Having last faced a Portuguese club in 1992, Real will be looking to take a big step towards the Round of 16 by taking all three points in their first-ever meeting with Benfica.
Real, who won with much suffering against Mallorca (1-0) on Saturday, travel to Lisbon with an excellent record in their recent European outings. In the Europa League 2022-23 group stage, the Blue and Whites have won all three of their away games, a superb run extended on October 3 with a 2-0 win at Salzburg.
Players to watch: Rafa Silva, who has scored seven of his last 11 goals at home, could be the one to open Benfica’s scoring account in this group stage. As in 2022-23, Brais Méndez has had a great start to the campaign with Real. The Mos midfielder has two goals in this UCL, both scored in first halves; seven of his last eight goals have come before the break.
Standout series: In each of Benfica’s last eight home games, a team has failed to score.
Benfica – Real Sociedad : Betting Tips
Benfica – Win Odds: 2.25
