Champions League: Benfica Out to Restore Former Glories

Benfica vs Liverpool

Two former European Cup winners meet in Lisbon, but that is – on paper at least – where the comparison ends.

For this is the first time in six seasons that Portuguese giants Benfica have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League – a stage they have not progressed beyond since 1990.

On the flip side, Liverpool are in the last eight for the fourth time in five seasons and have a formidable recent record in Portugal, including 14 goals in their last three visits to Porto.

So can Benfica, third in the Primeira Liga and out of title contention, really cause the mother of all shocks in this first leg?

Talking Points

Certainly, the English club are firm favourites for a reason.

They actually won their first seven games in this season’s competition, a run ended by a second-leg defeat at home by Inter Milan in the last 16 which didn’t affect their progress.

By contrast, Benfica, have only recorded three victories in their eight outings since their European opener in September, although they did surprise a few by edging out Ajax in the last round.

After twice coming from behind to force a 2-2 draw in the first leg, Darwin Nunez scored the winner as the Eagles won in Amsterdam to reach this stage.

Domestically, Benfica are out of the running and their own nine-game unbeaten run in all competitions came to an end on Friday evening as they slipped to a 3-2 defeat at Braga.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are on fire at the moment, and kept their Premier League hopes alive with a 10^th straight league win at home to Watford on Saturday.

If the truth be known, no one realistically expects Benfica to create Champions League 2022 highlights and one of the surprises of the season by repeating their 2006 heroics.

After all, the Benfica class of 2022 is a long way from the side which won consecutive European Cups in the early 1960s.

Yet it will be an interesting barometer for a club which is said to be redrawing its identity with Rui Costa taking over as president last year and promoting the Benfica B coach, Nélson Veríssimo, to replace Jorge Jesus.

History

In their 10 meetings, there has never been a draw between Benfica and Liverpool, who have four and six victories respectively.

The most recent clash came in the quarter-finals of the 2010 Europa League, when two penalties from Oscar Cardozo earned the Portuguese side a 2-1 home first-leg win. But Liverpool ran out 4-1 winners at Anfield in the second leg for a comfortable 5-3 aggregate success – a contest in which Fernando Torres netted twice.

The last time they met at Europe’s top table, however, was in 2006 when Benfica ended Liverpool’s reign as Champions League holders in the last 16.

Luisão, now a club director, scored the only goal of the first leg in Lisbon six minutes from time before Simão and Fabrizio Miccoli secured a 2-0 win on Merseyside.

The other three ties all came in the former European Cup format and all in campaigns in which Liverpool went on to reach the final.

In 1984/85, an Ian Rush hat-trick in the second round first leg proved crucial as Liverpool won 3-1, progressing despite a 1-0 loss at Benfica in the second leg.

Rush had also scored in both legs of the 1984 quarter-final between the clubs, while in the 1977/78 quarter-finals, the English side beat Benfica en route to retaining the trophy, a 2-1 away win, preceding a 4-1 home victory.

Betting Tip

The SBOTOP Champions League 2022 betting odds are massively in favour of Liverpool.

They are priced 1X2 @ 1.37, as well as -1.50 @ 2.14 with Asian Handicap options.

As for Benfica, 1X2 @ 7.40 and Asian Handicap +1.25 @ 2.11 shows why they are considered the weakest of the eight teams left in the competition,

Even the odds of 1X2 Draw @ 5.00 suggests it is not expected.

A repeat of their last meeting on Portuguese soil – Correct Score 2-1 – will pay out @ 28.00, whereas a re-run of Liverpool’s 4-1 win in their most recent clash is on offer @ 17.00 which, again, tells its own story.

I do think this tie could be over after the first leg if Benfica allow Liverpool to attack at will, as their domestic rivals Porto have done in clashes in recent seasons.

If they are more streetwise it could be a lot tighter which is why I am plumping for a bet of 2-3 goals to be scored in this match.

 

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