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Benfica v Feyenoord
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Kick Off: Wednesday 23rd October at 20:00
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Competition: UEFA Champions League
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Watch Live: TNT Sports 8
Wednesday night sees Benfica host Feyenoord in the third match week of this season’s premium European club competition. Benfica have already beaten Red Star Belgrade (2-1) and Atletico Madrid (4-0) and are one of seven teams that have 100% win records after two Champions League matchdays.
A draw and a defeat amongst their opening seven Liga Nos games means Benfica haven’t been able to keep up with the relentless pace set at the top of the table by Sporting CP but they have scored in every game since their shock opening day defeat to Familicao.
⭐ Benfica v Feyenoord Best Bets
Benfica are averaging 2.55 goals per game across their nine matches in both domestic and continental competitions this season. Feyenoord go into Champions League match week 3 with three points following a 4-0 home defeat to Bundesliga Champions, Bayer Leverkusen and a 3-2 ‘come from behind’ away victory over Girona.
Feyenoord made a stuttering start to their league season with four draws played out in their first six matches but their form is on the turn now. Even when struggling in the very early stages of the season, Feyenoord were registering goals. Only Leverkusen have kept a clean sheet against the Rotterdam club all season. Feyenoord average 2.36 goals per game in all competitions this season.
👕 Benfica v Feyenoord Predicted XI
🔍 Benfica v Feyenoord Players to Watch
🔴 Orkun Kokcu
Orkun Kokcu has scored in both Champions League matches played so far. The Dutch-born, Turkish international Kokcu signed for Benfica from Feyenoord in the summer of 2023 after two seasons in Rotterdam where he was one of, if not the, top performing player in the Eredivisie.
Kokcu is a midfielder that can do everything. Play deep as tone setter. Advanced with a creative threat. He is the heartbeat of the side and isn’t restricted to one profile. He’s also Benfica’s penalty taker and often on set-pieces. Kokcu has taken 10 shots in 6 Benfica appearances this season, scoring in his all of his last three matches and also assisting once. He will be keen to make an impression against his former club.
🔴 Vangelis Pavlidis
Another player Feyenoord should be wary of is Greek international forward, Vangelis Pavlidis. Feyenoord have no excuse to not be aware of Pavlidis’ quality. Pavlidis signed for Benfica this summer after excelling for Feyenoord’s Eredivisie rivals AZ Alkmaar. Pavlidis was a goalscoring machine in 2023/24’s Eredivisie season, scoring 29 goals in 34 matches. He is outstanding in the penalty area where he displays elite level movement and finishing.
Pavlidis has scored twice for Benfica since signing and proved his good recent form with two goals for Greece against England at Wembley in the recent international break. His shot numbers in his six Benfica games so far read 2-5-1-2-3-4 with 53% of his strikes hitting the target.
📂 Benfica v Feyenoord Cheat Sheet
The third week of the Champions League is littered with action and our signature football betting predictions are on hand to help. Make sure to check out our Champions League accumulator tips and Champions League bet builder tips.
We also have a selection of both teams to score tips, along with player prop market predictions to fold into bet builders, like our card betting tips, player shots on target tips, fouls betting tips, and anytime goalscorer tips.
💻 Benfica v Feyenoord Form and Tactics
Benfica play different variations of formations but always build upon a four at the back foundation. Sometimes they utilise a 4-3-3 and other times a 4-2-3-1 and Orkun Kokcu is they key to their shape as he can be deployed in any of the midfield roles as he is equally adept at playing as a #6, #8 or #10.
Benfica eased themselves back from the international break with a 2-0 away win in the Taca de Portugal over Pevidem SC where a lot of fringe players were utilised. Their last competitive fixture before that was the 4-0 match week 2 hammering of Atletico Madrid.
Benfica’s strength lay in attack. In their domestic league they average 2.4 goals per game and 6.3 shots on target per game. They dominate the ball and average over 60% possession a game. In defence they average conceding 0.7 goals per game – not bad numbers, but worst than their league rivals Sporting CP and Porto.
Feyenoord started the season by drawing too many matches, four of their opening six Eredivisie games. It brought criticism to new manger Brian Priske. But since the heavy home defeat to Leverkusen on CL match week 1, Feyenoord have performed better, winning four and drawing one of their next five matches.
Feyenoord’s ‘plug in and play’ 4-3-3 have been hampered by injuries to key players with striker Santiago Gimenez not expected back until December and Quilindischy Hartman and Calvin Stengs also on the sidelines. Their domestic data reads similar to Benfica’s. They average 58% possession and have scored 2.4 goals per game. Feyenoord come into Wednesday night’s game in their best form of the season after wins against Girona (3-2), Twente (2-1) and Go Ahead Eagles (5-1) in their most recent three matches.
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🏁 Benfica v Feyenoord Ref Watch
- Referee: Umut Meler (Turkey)
- Has refereed three Champions League matches this season (2 league stage, 1 qualifier) and has given 12 yellow cards – average of 4 per game.
- Has given 31 yellow cards in 9 matches this season – average of 3.44 per game
- Has given 4 penalties in 9 matches this season – average of 0.44 per game
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* I recommend waiting for confirmed team line-ups before placing any bets.
* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.
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