Juventus are seeking their first points of the Champions League campaign on Wednesday night. Benfica will arrive for the matchday No. 2 fixture in Turin to play the out-of-form Italians.
The Old Lady of Italian football fell 2-1 to Paris Saint-Germain on matchday No. 1 of the group stage.
𝟐 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 to go 🔜⭐#JUVSLB #UCL pic.twitter.com/BZ2LfyYMc3— SL Benfica (@SLBenfica) September 12, 2022
𝟐 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 to go 🔜⭐#JUVSLB #UCL pic.twitter.com/BZ2LfyYMc3
Kylian Mbappe scored twice in the opening 22 minutes to give the Parisians the lead. Juventus’s Weston McKennie pulled a goal back in the second half to make the game appear closer.
Benfica rolled over Israel’s Maccabi Haifa on matchday No. 1 by a score of 2-0. Rafa Silva and Alex Grimaldo scored in the second half to send the Eagles soaring to the win.
Roger Schmidt has Benfica playing some of their best football in years. The Portuguese team has won all 11 matches this season in all competitions.
Benfica’s last two matches in all competitions ended as wins to nil. In total, seven of Benfica’s 11 fixtures have finished as wins to nil.
Juventus are coming off of a come-from-behind draw at the weekend versus Salernitana at home. The Bianconeri were down 2-0 at one point before coming back to draw.
Max Allegri’s team failed to win each of their last three matches in all competitions. Just two of Juventus’s seven matches in all competitions ended in wins for the Bianconeri.
Allegri has a long list of injured players at Juventus. Midfielder Manuel Locatelli is a doubt with physical discomfort, Wojciech Szczesny is ruled out giving Mattia Perin another start, and forward Kaio Jorge is a doubt to make the squad.
Meanwhile, Angel Di Maria, Felix Correia, Marley Ake, Paul Pogba, and Federico Chiesa are all ruled out of the match due to injuries.
It isn’t just injuries to key players that has Juventus playing poorly. The Bianconeri have struggled in recruitment.
Schmidt has two defenders in the treatment room in the buildup to the match. Joao Victor has a muscle injury and is ruled out until January. Lucas Verissimo has a knee issue that will keep him out of action.
Benfica are led in goals by Joao Mario and Rafa Silva have combined for eight goals. Meanwhile, Juventus are led in goals by Dusan Vlahovic with four scores in all competitions.
Juventus are struggling while Benfica are playing well. Wednesday’s Champions League match between the European giants should finish in a score draw with under 2.5 goals. Benfica should go away to Turin to get a 1-1 draw.