Paris SG – Benfica : Preview & Prediction
Goals scored is all that separates Paris Saint-Germain from Benfica at the top of UEFA Champions League (UCL) Group H (G2, E1), as both teams had to settle for a share of the spoils in Portugal last week (1-1) . Current French Ligue 1 leaders PSG have won eight of their ten league games so far this season (E2), although one of those draws came last weekend when they were held 0-0 by Reims.
PSG coach Christophe Galtier said he “couldn’t be satisfied with that,” and a return to the Parc des Princes should gain some confidence, having won the last three UCL clashes at home against opponents from Portugal, including a 3-0 win over Benfica back in 2013. The Parisians have also taken all three points in their last five UCL home games and, notably, a sixth win in this appearance would equal the club’s longest run in the competition.
It has been a dream unbeaten start to 2022/23 for 37-time Portuguese champions Benfica, who sit top of the Primeira Liga and, in fact, are winless in just two of their matches so far this season (G14, E2). A 2-1 win over Juventus in their last away game of the UCL extended Benfica’s current unbeaten away run in European competition to six matches (G4, E2) and means they could win their first two away games in the UCL group stage for the first time in over ten years.
It is unlikely to be an easy feat to achieve for Roger Schmidt’s side, with Benfica set for a stern test against a PSG side against whom they have failed to win in three European away meetings (E1, P2). More generally, the Eagles have never won a single UCL away fixture on French soil (E2, P5) and scored just twice in the process, perhaps raising doubts about their capabilities heading into this fixture.
Players to watch: With another goal in this match, Kylian Mbappé, the highest-paid footballer in the world in 2022 according to Forbes, would overtake Edinson Cavani (30 goals) as PSG’s top European scorer in the club’s history. Meanwhile, Benfica will be hoping David Neres can find the net, as he has led his side to victory in his last 21 games in which he has found the back of the net.
Key statistic: 17 of the 20 goals in meetings between these two sides have been scored before halftime.
Paris SG – Benfica : Betting Tips
OVER 3.5 GOALS Odds: 2.25
