Will Qarabag test the patience of the Portuguese?
On the first matchday of the new Champions League season, we focus on the Benfica Lisbon vs. Qarabag FC tip, among others. As regular CL participants, the home side are the favorites in their own stadium and are heading for their first CL win of the season on the turf of the Estadio da Luz.
For the representatives from Azerbaijan, qualifying for the league phase is already a great success. In the Benfica Lisbon vs. Qarabag FC prediction, the visitors are starting their second Champions League campaign in the club’s history, but will probably have to wait a little longer for their first win in the competition.
We have gathered important insights from the first performances of these two teams in the Champions League qualifiers and used them as a basis for assessing the Benfica Lisbon vs. Qarabag FC odds.
Across all competitions, Bruno Lage’s team has not lost any of its previous nine competitive games (7W, 2D). However, there is no job security for the Scarlet Reds’ coach. He is accused of a lack of consistency, but this has not been evident in recent weeks.
Attractive Benfica Lisbon vs. Qarabag FC betting odds come to the fore when you take a little more risk and exploit the home side’s favorite status. The best way to do this is to take advantage of a free bet without a deposit.
While Bruno Lage’s team is in outstanding form going into the new Champions League season, the visitors from Azerbaijan are traveling to Lisbon with only one win from their last four competitive games. At our tested bookmaker VBET, we recommend odds of 1.85 for our Benfica Lisbon vs. Qarabag FC tip “Benfica Lisbon wins without conceding a goal.”
Benfica Lisbon vs. Qarabag FC Prediction AI
We asked our artificial intelligence BETSiE for a Benfica Lisbon vs. Qarabag FC prediction and received an assessment that matches our betting recommendation. An away goal for the Blue and Whites is considered rather unrealistic, so the odds of 1.72 in the Betano app for “Qarabag FC under 0.5 goals” are playable.
Benfica Lisbon – Statistics & current form
The start of the season couldn’t have gone much better for the Eagles. Benfica avoided any major problems in the league and won three of four matches 1U. Before the first matchday, Bruno Lage’s team had already won the Supertaca Candido de Oliveira, the Portuguese Super Cup, against Sporting Lisbon (1-0).
Their performances in the Champions League qualifiers were also cause for celebration. The Portuguese side overcame two tricky tasks, first beating Nice (2-0, 2-0) and then Fenerbahce (0-0, 1-0).
The hosts have yet to lose a competitive game this season (7W, 2D) and have kept a clean sheet in every match in the Champions League qualifiers. According to our Benfica Lisbon vs. Qarabag FC prediction, another clean sheet will follow on the first matchday of the Champions League.
Flexible in their play
Bruno Lage’s team has also been impressive defensively at the national level. Only Porto has conceded fewer goals and expected goals (2.9 xGA) than the Eagles from Lisbon (2 goals conceded, 3.7 expected goals). The visitors from Azerbaijan are unlikely to have many chances to score.
Up front, Vangelis Pavlidis continues to be the target man and most dangerous weapon. The 26-year-old scored seven goals in the Champions League last season—the best tally since Sergei Yuran in the 1991/92 season. The Greek finished the four qualifying games without scoring, but he has already found the net twice in the league.
In addition, the hosts have made a successful start to two of their three previous Champions League seasons. What’s more, the team from Lage kept a clean sheet in two of their first three CL home games last season (4-0 vs. Atletico Madrid, 0-0 vs. Bologna).
Qarabag FC – Statistics & current form
Qarabag’s opponents in the Champions League qualifiers had less illustrious names (Shelbourne, Shkendija, Ferencvaros) than Benfica Lisbon’s challengers (Nice, Fenerbahce). Nevertheless, visiting coach Qurban Qurbanov can be proud of the second successful CL qualification in the club’s history.
The 53-year-old’s team won their first five qualifying games and, despite a 2-3 defeat to Ferencvaros Budapest in their last outing, managed to push their way into the league phase of the premier class. However, their performances in the domestic league have suffered somewhat.
Qarabag won only one of their first three league games (1D, 1L) and scored a maximum of one goal in two of their three appearances. On the international stage, Qurbanov’s team focuses on a fast transition game and defends their own penalty area with all their might.
Form curve pointing downwards
According to the Benfica Lisbon – Qarabag FC odds, the visitors are facing a pointless and goalless trip to Portugal. Part of the reason for this is the poor form of the Blue and Whites. The Reiter have won only one of their last four competitive games (1D, 2L).
Furthermore, the Azerbaijani side are still waiting for their first win in Europe’s premier competition. Their first and only appearance in the Champions League group stage to date ended in 2017/18 without a win (2D, 4L) and with only two goals scored.
Qurbanov was already on the Blue and Whites’ bench at that time. He has been in charge of the twelve-time Azerbaijani champions since 2008. He should be aware that his team will not be as lucky in the league phase as they were in the two matches against Ferencvaros. Both encounters ended in defeat, with the expected goals scored.
Benfica Lisbon – Qarabag FC Head-to-head record
As expected, the first official meeting between these two clubs will take place on the first matchday at the Estadio da Luz. The home side are the favorites in the Benfica Lisbon vs. Qarabag FC betting odds and are heading for a successful start in the Champions League.
Benfica Lisbon – Qarabag FC Tip
Bruno Lage has already pulled several systems out of his tactical bag this season and optimally adjusted Benfica to their respective opponents. We were able to identify a formation with a back three, as well as a classic 4-4-2 or 4-3-3.
This underlines the high standard of the hosts, who have yet to lose a competitive game this season. In addition, the Eagles will be playing at the Estadio da Luz, which has already been the scene of many sensational football thrills on the European stage.
Qarabag will try to force a game of patience with maximum intensity and great passion, which will test the nerves of the Benfica professionals. However, the home side have the necessary form and experience to bring sufficient calm to the pitch. In our opinion, there is not much standing in the way of a confident home win for the Portuguese representatives.
