Benfica vs Salzburg prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-09-19 19:00.
Group D is one of this season’s more open UEFA Champions League (UCL) groups meaning both Benfica and Salzburg will be desperate to start with a win that could set them on the way to passage into the knockout phase, a feat Benfica are chasing for a third successive season. They’re also looking to start their competition proper with a third straight opening home group stage win.
The Portuguese side’s recent form certainly suggests they’ll come into this contest with confidence, as they’ve overcome the shock 3-2 domestic defeat to Boavista last month by stringing together four straight victories. The latest away win at Vizela led to manager Roger Schmidt praising his side’s “mentality”, something that should be boosted with the confidence of having never previously suffered defeat to an Austrian side (W6, D2).
Salzburg, in the UCL group stage for the fifth consecutive year, should also be brimming with confidence as the 2-2 draw at fellow Bundesliga title contenders Sturm Graz this past weekend was their only blemish from the opening seven unbeaten rounds of league action. Yet, just one win in this competition from their last eight attempts (D4, L3) highlights how tough they have Red Bulls have found taking on Europe’s elite in recent years.
That rings especially true on the road where they’ve not won a UCL away game in any of the last two campaigns, failing to score more than a single goal in any of the contests. They’ve also scored just one goal across their last two visits away to Portuguese opposition, with a 1-1 draw against Vitória S.C 2017 following a 2-0 defeat to Sporting C.P in 1993.
Players to watch: After scoring in Benfica’s last home game, Ángel Di María will have ambitions to score his 33rd career goal in Europe, albeit his last in this competition came way back in the 2020/21 season. Salzburg’s Sékou Koïta will hope to translate his strong domestic travelling form to the European stage after scoring three goals in his last three away games, each arriving after the 70th minute.
Hot streak: Benfica haven’t conceded a goal at home in their five matches here (W5) since Inter netted two in this competition back in April.