In the opening week of the UEFA Champions League, both Benfica and Atlético Madrid secured hard-fought victories, but only the Madrid side faced a top-tier opponent. After Bruno Lage’s return, the Lisbon side still needs some rebuilding, which might affect their results in matches against giants.
Following the international break, Benfica clinched four consecutive wins, largely thanks to a relatively easy schedule. However, they managed to keep a clean sheet only once. In Belgrade against Red Star Belgrade (2:1), the stellar Turkish duo Kerem Aktürkoglu and Orkun Kökçü (2+0) shone, but after Alexander Bah’s injury, the Portuguese side struggled to move the ball forward (0.85 against 0.74 xG). For the match against the Madrid side, Bruno Lage will also miss Renato Sanchez and Aursnes Fredrik, which limits their midfield options.
In La Liga, Atlético Madrid have already experienced several setbacks (four wins and four draws in eight matches), but the team consistently displays determination. In the derby against Real Madrid (1:1), they did not deserve to lose (1.16 against 0.77 xG), and Ángel Correa’s late goal was a fitting end to the game. It’s likely that Diego Simeone will once again field Julián Alvarez, Alexander Sørloth, and Antoine Griezmann simultaneously, significantly boosting their attacking potential.
Against RB Leipzig (2:1), Atlético Madrid also managed to claim a comeback victory in the final minutes, but a dramatic finish might not be necessary in Lisbon. Benfica are still too raw to compete with the giants, giving the Spanish side a much higher chance of winning the match.
