- Juventus are unbeaten at home in the UEFA Champions League this season (W1, D2).
- Benfica have won one and lost two of their three away games in the competition this season.
Juventus and Benfica enter crucial League Phase clash
Juventus FC will be favourites to beat SL Benfica at 21/25, while Benfica are available at 71/20 for Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League 2025-2026 League Phase fixture at Allianz Stadium. At face value, both markets are extremely appealing, but we have to side with the hosts given the importance of the matchup.
It is not a stretch to say that this clash of styles will be decided by which team can impose their identity on the other for longer. Luciano Spalletti has had a fantastic impact on Juventus in his short time at the helm since October 2025, implementing a flexible, possession-based system with overloading midfield runs and fluid rotation.
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho has brought a more pragmatic, risk-averse style to Benfica since taking over in September 2025, one in which compact blocks, careful build-up and quick vertical counters are prioritised. Both teams are highly structured and dangerous on the counter attack, so this has all the makings of a chess game, and Juventus should be able to dictate the pace of it.
Hosts to hold the edge in likely low-scoring affair
Juve have been excellent at home recently, thrashing Cremonese 5-0 but then falling to a 1-0 defeat away to Cagliari. In their last five games in all competitions, the Old Lady have won three, drawn one, and lost once, and they’re unbeaten in three home UEFA Champions League games this campaign (W1, D2).
Benfica responded to back-to-back defeats to SC Braga and FC Porto by beating Rio Ave 2-0 away in their most recent match, but their form in Europe has been a struggle. The Eagles have won just one of their last three away fixtures, drawing one and losing one, and have only scored twice in three Champions League away matches this campaign.
Vlahovic to make the difference for Old Lady
With nine points from six UEFA Champions League 2025/2026 matches, Juventus sit 17th in the standings, while Benfica are a further three points behind in 25th and must win on Wednesday to keep their qualification hopes alive. As a result, this contest will be no picnic for either team, but with a superior attacking record, Juventus should be expected to wear down Benfica.
Vangelis Pavlidis has been in red-hot form for Benfica with four of his team’s last seven goals in all competitions, but they lack the sheer firepower to blow open the game against Juventus. Leandro Barreiro is Benfica’s top marksman in the Champions League with just two goals in five matches, while Dusan Vlahovic is the focal point of Juventus’s attack with three goals in four matches this time. The Serbian striker will likely be the difference between the teams in what should be a low-scoring fixture, so back him to get on the scoresheet.
Under 2.5 goals is priced at 17/20 for this game, a price which seems very attractive given that Juventus average 2.33 goals for and 1.67 against at home in the Champions League this year. Benfica have only hit the back of the net twice in their three away Champions League matches, and given the styles of these teams, we could be in for a tense affair. Juventus should hold the upper hand though, and Benfica’s solid backline will eventually crumble against their more potent attack.
