UCL 2022-23: Benfica vs Club Brugge: Predicted Lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

Not too much can be said about this tie. A match-up of two underdogs, with added emphasis on Club Brugge being an underdog. Benfica secured a 2-0 win on Belgian soil, courtesy of two defensive errors, gifting Joao Mario a penalty and David Neres a late goal. The Belgian outfit is in a really tight corner after having conceded two away goals at the Jan Breydel stadium but their hopes of making it to the quarter-finals are definitely not yet over. It however means that Scott Parker and his men would have some serious work to do to pull off a large win.

This was the fourth win in a row for the Eagles, who are now 11 points clear of Porto, but with a game more than the Dragons. In these four victories, the defence allowed just one goal, and that’s another sign of their solid form.

Kick-Off:

Tuesday, 07-03-2023, 8:00 PM(GMT)

Wednesday, 08-03-2023, 1:30 AM (IST)

Club Brugge Form (All Competitions): W-D-L-D-D-W

Benfica Form (All Competitions): W-W-W-L-W-W

Players To Watch

Benfica: Gonçalo Ramos

Ramos is a forward who fits the profile of a modern striker in terms of his work rate. He presses with intent and is not afraid to put himself about against the opposition. Ramos likes to link up with the midfield and makes proactive movements which always can put a striker in a goal-scoring position more often rather than standing around and waiting for the service. As well as scoring with his feet, he can equally do this with his head which is a great attribute to have in the modern game for a forward. 

Club Brugge: Noa Lang

Noa Lang is a gifted, right-footed wide forward most comfortable coming inside off the left wing, though has the versatility to play across the attack. It is his immense creativity which is his most noticeable trait; he can effortlessly switch from a languid presence moving between the lines to a more dynamic style with rapid changes of tempo.  He is also excellent at using improvised chips, scoops and round-the-corner flicks to unpick deep defences. He is dangerous when dribbling and carrying the ball too, both in tight spaces to retain and outplay opponents as well as in open spaces moving directly towards the goal. He can generate shots for himself through dribbling and quick shifts with the ball to work an angle, or by making intelligent forward runs beyond the ball and into the penalty area to receive and get a shot away.

Match Facts

• Club Brugge has faced five different Portuguese sides in European competition (Boavista, FC Porto, Marítimo, Sporting Braga and Sporting CP), despite this being their second meeting with Benfica.
• Club Brugge have lost four of their last five such matches against Portuguese opposition.

• Benfica has only lost one of their previous 14 matches against Belgian opponents in European competition (W9 D4), with that lone defeat coming away to Anderlecht in a UEFA Champions League qualifier in August 2004.
• Benfica have been unbeaten in six games against Belgian sides since then, winning five matches.

Team and Injury news

Mihailo Ristic and Julian Draxler are absent due to injuries, Ristic with his muscle problems and Draxler having ankle trouble. Florentino, Gonçalo Ramos, João Mário, and Otamendi will miss the next match if they get booked.

Jack Hendry is not available, while Andreas Skov Olsen might be in the protocol, but that will be a game-time decision. Buchanan, Mignolet, Nielsen, Odoi, and Sowah will miss the next match if they get booked.

Head-to-Head stats

Matches: 1

Benfica: 1

Club Brugge: 0

Draws: 0

Predicted Lineup

Benfica Predicted Lineup(4-2-3-1):

Vlachodimos; Bah, António Silva, Otamendi, Grimaldo; Aursnes, Florentino; João Mário, Neres, Gonçalo Guedes; Gonçalo Ramos

Club Brugge Predicted Lineup(4-3-3):

Mignolet; Mata, Hendry, Mechele, Meijer; Odoi, Onyedika; Buchanan, Vanaken, Lang; Yaremchuk

Match Prediction

After winning in Belgium, Benfica have it well within their sights to emulate last season's achievement of reaching the last eight. The Eagles were patient and clinical in the first leg and are likely to ally similar traits with a more attacking mindset in Lisbon. Expect to see the hosts look to put the tie to bed as early as possible.

Prediction: Benfica 2 - 0 Club Brugge

Telecast

UK – BT Sport

US – Paramount+

India – Sony Sports Network, JIO TV and Sony LIV

Nigeria – SuperSport 3