Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the opening fixtures of the Club World Cup group stage will take place on Tuesday at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, where Argentina's Boca Juniors will face Portugal's Benfica. I'm backing a bet on goals in this clash, with an attractive odds offer.
Match preview
The Argentine giants have traveled to the USA burdened by inconsistent results and sky-high expectations. Miguel Ángel Russo's side have managed just two wins in their last five outings and suffered a painful defeat to Independiente — clear signs that Boca are currently far from their peak form.
Nevertheless, this team boasts a wealth of international experience and is renowned for its fighting spirit. Up front, Edinson Cavani is set to play a pivotal role — his class and predatory instincts should be enough to inspire his teammates when it matters most. Boca’s success will largely hinge on how well their attacking trio can gel on the night.
The Portuguese club approaches the Club World Cup opener with confidence and a well-drilled tactical plan. Despite a dramatic overtime loss to Sporting, Bruno Lage’s squad have generally shown resilience and tactical flexibility.
Lage has a knack for tailoring his lineup to any opponent, and the duo of João Mário and Gonçalo Ramos can provide the creative spark in attack. Benfica look the more organized and balanced unit, which could prove decisive against Boca.
Probable lineups
- Boca Juniors: Marchesín, Blondel, Battaglia, Costa, Blanco, Belmonte, Delgado, Zenón, Palacios, Cavani, Jiménez
- Benfica: Soares, Fernandes, Otamendi, Silva, Araújo, Florentino, Kökçü, Dahl, Aktürkoğlu, Bruma, Pavlidis
Match facts and head-to-head
- This will be the first official meeting in history between Boca Juniors and Benfica
- Bookmakers rate Benfica as favorites at 1.75 odds, while Boca are outsiders at 4.72
- Both teams have scored in four of Benfica’s last five matches
Prediction
This promises to be a match full of emotion and footballing drama. Our prediction leans towards Benfica: the Portuguese side look slightly more composed, and Lage’s tactical flexibility could prove decisive. However, Boca Juniors are always an unpredictable force — a single moment could turn everything on its head. Our recommended bet is "Both teams to score" at odds of 1.88.
