Benfica vs Galatasaray Prediction and Preview – 03/11/15
Champions League preview – Benfica vs Galatasaray prediction
Benfica will definitely be without Eduardo Salvio for the meeting with Galatasaray. Central midfielder Andreas Samaris is also out due to suspension and may be replaced in the team by Anderson Talisca. Lubomir Fejsa is also an injury doubt but otherwise, the remainder of Rui Vitoria’s squad are available for selection.
Galatasaray travel to Portugal without defender Lionel Carole and midfielder Jose Rodriguez, who are both injured. Hamit Altintop has made a return to training but is still some way off making it back in to the starting XI. Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder was suspended at the weekend but should come back in to the team for this game.
Possible Line-ups
Benfica: 4-4-2 formation: Cesar; Nelsinho, Jardel, Luisao, Eliseu; Guedes, Almeida, Talisca, Gaitan; Jonas, Jiminez
Galatasaray: 4-2-3-1 formation: Muslera; Sarioglu, Chedjou, Balta, Adin; Kisa, Inan; Oztekin, Sneijder, Podolski; Bulut
Statistics
- Benfica have won 7 and lost 3 of their last 10 matches
- Galatasaray have won 7, drawn 2 and lost 1 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Benfica have scored an average of 2.3 goals and conceded an average of 1 goal per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Galatasaray have scored an average of 1.9 goals and conceded an average of 0.8 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 8 of Benfica’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 5 of Galatasaray’s previous 10 matches
Prediction
Benfica come in to this Champions League game on six points, the same as Group C leaders Atletico Madrid. However, having lost in Turkey last time out to Galatasaray and suffering a damaging 3-0 home defeat in the Portuguese league to rivals Sporting, Benfica were glad to get back to winning ways at the weekend. Benfica have lost just one of their last nine home Champions League games.
Galatasaray come in to this game on the back of an eight match unbeaten run and sit in third place in Champions League Group C, on 4 points. The win over Benfica last time out, plus the point at Astana means Galatasaray have come back well from losing their opening game at home to Atletico Madrid. The team have been scoring plenty of goals of late, netting 17 times in their last seven games. That being said, Champions League away form is poor and Galatasaray have lost six of their last seven away games in the competition.
Benfica are not an easy team to defeat in their own stadium and Galatasaray’s away record in the Champions League is so poor, this has to go down as a home win.
Tips
Benfica win at 8/15 – Click here to bet with Bet365
Over 2.5 goals at 4/6 – Click here to bet with Bet365
Benfica to win by 1 goal at 13/5 – Click here to bet with Bet365
What are your predictions?
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