Benfica vs Club Brugge – Betting Preview
Club Brugge travels to Portugal to play Benfica in the second leg of their last-16 match on Tuesday night, needing nothing less than a miracle to keep their Champions League dream alive.
Roger Schmidt’s team left Belgium with a 2-0 lead from the first leg, where Scott Parker’s team’s defensive mistakes proved to be their undoing.
Benfica Preview
Amid their sustained surge towards glory in the Portuguese top flight, Benfica had to be patient to make the breakthrough at the Jan-Breydel-Stadion in their first leg with Brugge on February 15, but a pair of costly mistakes from the Belgian giants gifted the Eagles victory on a silver platter.
When Goncalo Ramos was fouled by Jack Hendry after 51 minutes, Joao Mario was able to score from the spot off the crossbar. In the closing seconds, David Neres scored the insurance goal thanks to yet another defensive blunder, this time caused by Brandon Mechele’s sloppy touch.
Benfica, who were eliminated by Liverpool in the last eight during the 2021–22 season, might make the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the first time in their 119-year history, but the Portuguese powerhouses have yet to get further than the semifinals of the top division.
Club Brugge Preview
It was a sight to behold as the well-dressed Parker presided over a Champions League match, but the former England international has openly acknowledged that he is concerned for his future in the Brugge hot seat during a poor run for the Belgian champions.
There was little the former Bournemouth manager could have done to stop two individual mistakes in the first leg, and Brugge aren’t doing much better at home, winning just two of their last 13 games in the top division while defending their championship in misery.
Brugge’s emotions were considerably raised by a 2-0 victory over Gent on February 26 but were quickly knocked back to earth by a humiliating 3-0 loss to KV Oostende on Friday.
They now occupy the fourth spot in the standings, 20 points behind the team in first place, Genk, who also has a game remaining.
1×2 Betting Odds
Let’s begin analysing the 1×2 market
Club Brugge may have served Porto some humility during their amazing group-stage exploits, but mounting an unlikely comeback at the Primeira Liga leaders’ stadium is unquestionably going too far.
Benfica to win stands @ 1.48. They are the firm favourites.
A severe loss here might very well be the last straw for Parker, should he decide to stay in charge for the time being, as the Eagles would undoubtedly easily advance to the round of eight.
Club Brugge to pull off a miracle stands @ 7.70.
The market odds of a stalemate, which will see Benfica qualify, stands @ 4.90.
Total goals over/under
Let’s check the over/under scenario
The odds that the total number of goals scored will be over 2.5, stands @ 1.75.
While the odds that the total number of goals will be under 2.5, stands @ 2.28.
Judging by the market odds, it is expected that this will be an open game, where the home side will dominate and win quite comfortably!
