Benfica (Por) vs Fenerbahce (Tur) prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Qualification betting tips on match 2025-08-26 19:00.
[p]Benfica host Fenerbahçe in this finely poised UEFA Champions League (UCL) play-off second leg, following last week’s goalless draw in Turkey. [/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Benfica have participated in the UCL main draw in 14 of the last 15 seasons, reaching the quarter-finals on four of those occasions. Their place in this season’s league phase is under threat, with their goalless draw in Istanbul the first time in 24 games that Bruno Lage’s men had failed to score. That trepidation may have been eased following a routine 3-0 Primeira Liga win over Tondela on Saturday, meaning the Portuguese giants have now kept six successive clean sheets in all competitions. Extending that run would go a long way towards securing their place in Thursday’s league phase draw, but ultimately only a win will be enough to see them through inside 90 minutes.[/p]
[p]Fenerbahçe head to Lisbon after a 3-1 win over Kocaelispor following two consecutive goalless draws, including last week’s first leg. José Mourinho will hope that serves as a confidence booster in the Yellow Canaries’ quest to secure a first main draw appearance in 17 years. That will be challenging given the Turkish side have only tasted victory in two of their last eight European games on the road under Mourinho (D3, L3), but the Portuguese boss has masterminded six wins against Benfica to date, suffering defeat just once in ten managerial meetings (D3). [/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]Benfica are unbeaten in the last four competitive H2Hs (W2, D2), and although the overall record is closer, the Eagles still have the edge (W3, D2, L2). [/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Benfica have scored at least twice in seven of their last eight home games.[/p]
[p]Benfica have not trailed at half-time in their last nine matches.[/p]
[p]Six of Fenerbahçe’s last seven away games have seen both teams score in normal time.[/p]
[p]There have been four red cards brandished in Fenerbahçe’s last seven matches.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Franjo Ivanović scored his first Benfica home goal against Tondela after signing from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise last month, with five of his last six club goals at any venue coming before half-time. Fenerbahçe defender Archie Brown also moved during this transfer window, with the Englishman registering four goal involvements (G2, A2) in his last four appearances for his new side. [/p]
[p]Neither side appear to have any fresh injury concerns ahead of the second leg. [/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Given that ten cards were issued in the first leg, including one red, betting on over four cards is a somewhat conservative but potentially profitable punt. [/p]
[p][i]Author: Alex Bowmer[/i][/p]