Turin braces for a high-scoring duel: Juventus vs Benfica prediction
Juventus
SL Benfica
The first-round league-phase clash in the Women's Champions League between Juventus and Benfica will take place on September 22 at the Juventus Center in Turin. The Italians begin their European campaign after a thrilling win over Roma, while the Portuguese side arrive on the back of an unbeaten run and 13 victories in their last 15 matches.
Juventus: capable of winning in a cagey game or a shootout
Juventus have won 11 of their last 15 matches, drawing twice and suffering just two defeats. The team have looked especially convincing of late, recording five wins in their last six games. Before that, the Turin side had secured three consecutive 1-0 victories, including wins over Inter and Milan.
Their most recent match was the complete opposite, as Juventus defeated Roma 6-4. The game once again showcased the attacking potential of Max Canzi's team, but conceding four goals also highlighted the problems that emerge when an opponent manages to stretch the defense and force the Turin side into an end-to-end battle.
Benfica: unbeaten run and almost perfect form
Benfica head to Turin with an impressive record: 13 wins in their last 15 matches and no defeats. In their previous outing, the Lisbon side comfortably beat Rio Ave 2-0. Before that, they scored five against Porto and kept clean sheets in wins over Racing Power and London City Lionesses.
Benfica have won 15 of their 18 matches this year, an 83% win rate. Jeff Strasser's team are confident in possession and capable not only of absorbing pressure but also of creating danger consistently in the final third. As a result, the trip to Turin is unlikely to turn into a purely defensive exercise for the visitors.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- Last season, Juventus beat Benfica 2-1 in a European competition match.
- The Turin side have won 11 of their last 15 matches, while Benfica have won 13 of 15.
- Juventus's latest match against Roma ended 6-4 — the highest-scoring result in the recent run of both teams.
The visitors are too good for the hosts to expect an easy win: Juventus vs Benfica prediction
Juventus have home advantage and already know how to beat this opponent, but Benfica's current form leaves little room for the Italians to expect a comfortable evening. The Portuguese side have not lost in a long time and are more than capable of exploiting vulnerabilities in the Turin defense. At the same time, the hosts' attacking firepower remains a serious argument in favor of their victory. A game in which both teams score looks like the logical scenario here.
