Benfica will look to replicate last season’s Champions League form when they host Salzburg on Wednesday. Last year’s competition saw the hosts advance to the quarterfinals. The visitors were eliminated from their group stage.
Preview (Benfica vs. Salzburg)
The 38th Primeira Liga championship in Benfica’s history earned them a spot in the 2023–24 Champions League group stage. Roger Schmidt’s team set their sights on another impressive continental run after reaching the quarterfinals of Europe’s top competition in 2022–23. With Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, and Maccabi Haifa in their difficult group, As Aguias advanced in first place with an undefeated record after picking up four victories and playing out two draws in their matches with the French powerhouse PSG. The Portuguese team’s first-place finish secured them a matchup with Club Brugge in the round of 16.
After defeating rival Porto in the Supertaca Candido de Oliveira, they have now played five games. Schmidt’s team had a losing start against Boavista. They went on a four-game winning streak to take over the top spot in the Primeira Liga. They most recently followed up a 4-0 thrashing of Vitoria de Guimaraes with a 2-1 victory over Vizela on Saturday. Now that they are on a roll, they will try to keep it going in their group opener on Wednesday. They hope to get off to a winning start before playing Inter Milan and Real Sociedad later this month.
Red Bull Salzburg, who missed out on qualifying for the Champions League last year, will also try to get off to a fast start in their quest to advance to the knockout stage for just the second time in their history. Their six points were not enough to secure a spot in the round of 16. They finished third and advanced to the Europa League playoff round. Red Bull Salzburg has had a strong start to the new season under new manager Gerhard Struber. They started with six straight victories, scoring 16 goals and only giving up twice in the process.
Team News
Anatoliy Trubin, who made his club debut against Vizela after joining from Shakhtar Donetsk to replace departing goalie Odysseas Vlachodimos, is once again expected to start for Benfica in the starting lineup from their league victory at the weekend. In his six appearances in the Primeira Liga and Supertaca since rejoining the club after a 13-year absence with Real Madrid, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, and Juventus, fellow summer signing Angel Di Maria, 35, has already had a significant impact in Lisbon.
He will start on the right wing, with Joao Mario expected to play on the other flank in support of Petar Musa, the team’s lone striker. Joao Neves and recent addition Orkun Kokcu will continue to work together in the midfield, and 19-year-old Antonio Silva will start alongside seasoned defender Nicolas Otamendi at the back. Red Bull Salzburg’s attack on Wednesday should be led by 20-year-old Roko Simic, who opened his account for the season with a brace in a recent 2-0 victory over Rapid Vienna, and 19-year-old Karim Konate, who has already managed six goals and two assists in eight appearances across league and cup action this season. However, Sekou Koita does have a claim to come in from the start-up front.
Oscar Gloukh, an Israeli prospect who has contributed a goal and three assists so far this season, will support whichever two forwards are used, while Maurits Kjaergaard, Mads Bidstrup, and Lucas Gourna-Douath should all hold their positions in the back. Due to illness, key defender Strahinja Pavlovic missed the most recent Sturm Graz match.
Benfica 3 – 1 Red Bull Salzburg
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