Juventus vs Benfica prediction, head-to-head and probable lineups - 21 January 2026
One of the key fixtures of Matchday 7 in the Champions League group stage will take place on Wednesday at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, where Juventus will host Portuguese giants Benfica. Here’s a betting tip for this high-stakes clash with strong odds for success.
Match preview
The Bianconeri suffered a surprising defeat to Cagliari in Serie A, a blow that has all but dashed their Scudetto hopes. However, Luciano Spalletti’s men are currently 17th in the Champions League standings and remain well within reach of the knockout stage. A victory over Benfica could propel them directly into the round of 16, provided other results go their way.
For this encounter, Juventus are missing Daniele Rugani and Dusan Vlahovic, but otherwise, the squad is nearly at full strength. Jonathan David is set to lead the line, supported by the energetic Weston McKennie and the creative Kenan Yildiz, who already boasts four assists in the competition. After back-to-back wins in the Champions League, Juve will be eager to build on this momentum and finally overcome their troublesome rivals.
Jose Mourinho’s side struggled to find their rhythm in Europe this season, losing their first four matches. Yet, the Portuguese outfit have rallied in recent rounds, notching up two wins - including a crucial triumph over Napoli - which keeps them in the hunt for a top-24 spot. Benfica currently occupy 25th place, and a positive result in Turin is essential to secure a play-off berth.
The coaching staff will be without the injured Dodi Lukebakio, Alexander Bah, and Richard Rios, but the core of the squad remains intact. Up front, Vangelis Pavlidis - already with 17 league goals - will once again lead the attack, though he has yet to shine in this Champions League campaign. Given Benfica’s historical dominance over Juventus (seven wins in nine meetings), the visitors will aim to impose their style, but the challenges of playing away and their current form are not in their favor.
Probable lineups
- Juventus: Di Gregorio, Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso, Locatelli, Thuram, Conceicao, McKennie, Yildiz, David
- Benfica: Trubin, Dedic, Otamendi, Araujo, Dahl, Barreiro, Aursnes, Prestianni, Sudakov, Schjelderup, Pavlidis
Match facts and head-to-head
- Benfica have won 7 of their 9 head-to-head encounters with Juventus, including the last three in a row.
- Juventus have not won three consecutive Champions League matches since the 2021/22 season.
- In eight previous managerial meetings between Spalletti and Mourinho, Jose leads with three wins to Luciano’s two.
Prediction
Juventus will be highly motivated after their league defeat and with a chance to break into the top eight. Despite their poor record against Benfica and Mourinho’s experience, the Turin side boasts a slightly more balanced squad and the backing of their home crowd. Expect a tense, hard-fought contest with goals on both sides.
