Benfica head to Greece to face off with PAOK on Tuesday night in the Champions League third-qualifying round. The Portuguese giants are just two steps away from qualifying once again for the Champions League group stage.
Standing in their way is PAOK, last season’s Greek Super League runners-up. PAOK and Benfica joined the qualifying round of the Champions League thanks to the league path after both missed out on winning the titles for their respective divisions.
✈️🇬🇷 Hi, Greece!#PAOKSLB #UCL #WeAreBenfica pic.twitter.com/0ZJN5vImDX— SL Benfica (@slbenfica_en) September 13, 2020
✈️🇬🇷 Hi, Greece!#PAOKSLB #UCL #WeAreBenfica pic.twitter.com/0ZJN5vImDX
PAOK entered this season’s Champions League qualifying stages at the second round. The Greeks defeated Turkey’s Besiktas 3-1 at home. The win should strike fear in Benfica. This will be a difficult game to go away and win.
Benfica enter the competition at this stage. The Eagles finished second last season in Portugal behind FC Porto. Coach Jorge Jesus’s team have not started their domestic campaign as yet.
They won’t start their domestic season until Friday. Fitness could be an issue for the Eagles away to PAOK. Due to COVID-19, there are issues off the pitch that can cause chaos on it.
PAOK started the Greek Super League season on Friday, September 11. They picked up a 1-0 win versus AE Larissa at home. Although Benfica have the better squad, Thessaloniki isn't an easy place to go and win.
The clubs have recent history against one another. They have met four times since the 2013-14 Europa League season. In 2013-14, Benfica won twice in the Europa League versus PAOK, tallying a combined score of 4-0.
More recently, PAOK and Benfica met twice in the Champions League qualifying stages in 2018-19. The clubs drew 1-1 in Portugal before Benfica claimed a 4-1 win away from home in Thessaloniki in the second leg to move onto the next round.
Benfica have been their typical busy selves in the transfer market buying and selling players. The Lisbon club spent quite heavily with over €70 million being spent on players. They also signed former Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen on a free transfer.
The Eagles have reinvested their Joao Felix money and bought some significant talent. Now, they hope that spend will translate into trophies.
Tuesday night’s game should see Benfica get a win and move onto the playoff round of Champions League qualifying. The Eagles’ talent will rise to the top as they edge out PAOK.
Expect both teams to score in what could be an open fixture. The teams should combine for over 2.5 goals.