Real Sociedad vs Benfica prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-11-07 17:45.
Halfway through the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League (UCL) group stage, Real Sociedad top Group D on goal difference (W2, D1) as they bid for European knockout football for a fourth consecutive campaign. To continue that push, they’ll have to put Saturday’s disappointment behind them after they were beaten 1-0 by a late Barcelona strike that ended a four-game unbeaten streak (W3, D1).
Still in the hunt for European qualification via La Liga despite that last-gasp loss, they’re enjoying their first UCL campaign since 2013/14 and have lost just one of their last five European home games (W2, D2). The White and Blues also have a winning record against Portuguese clubs at home (W2, D1), which they’ll look to extend by doing the double over Benfica following their 1-0 victory on Portuguese soil on matchday three.
That defeat left two-time European Cup winners Benfica bottom of the table (L3) with work to do even to reach the knockouts of the UEFA Europa League as they’re still yet to find the net in the UCL this term. While scoring has not been a problem in the Portuguese top-flight, where they sit in second place, manager Roger Schmidt admitted they have struggled in Europe, claiming his side have “quality” but are yet to prove it on the continental stage.
The Eagles could still be dangerous on their travels as they have lost only one of their last 11 UCL away fixtures (W6, D4) and are also unbeaten across their last three UCL games in Spain (W1, D2). Those matches include two 0-0 draws with Barcelona, indicating they have historically succeeded where Sociedad failed on Saturday!
Players to watch: Sociedad’s Brais Méndez scored the winner on matchday three with his fifth goal of the season, three of which came between the 60th and 70th minutes. All three of João Mário’s goals for Benfica this term came across their last five fixtures, two of them being first-half match openers.
Hot stat: Only Arsenal and Manchester City had collected fewer group stage bookings than Benfica (four) across the first three UCL matchdays.