Benfica and PSG will look to keep their perfect record in UEFA Champions League Group H intact when they go head-to-head on Wednesday.
An intriguing contest can be anticipated at the Estádio da Luz as an in-form Benfica welcome a rampant PSG on Matchday 3 of the UEFA Champions League Group H.
Portuguese and French table-toppers, Benfica and PSG, have enjoyed outstanding unbeaten starts to their respective seasons, both domestically and in the Champions League. So another win for either here will put them firmly in the box seat for progression to the Last 16 despite being at the halfway mark of the group phase.
Benfica should be buoyed by their victory over Juventus, and they should be able to hold their own against PSG’s frequently unstoppable firepower. However, the hosts did have a stunning 13-game winning run snapped over the weekend as they were held to a 0-0 stalemate by Vitoria SC. And Benfica will aim to bounce back by taking down another European heavyweight in PSG.
The visitors, meanwhile, have been in impressive form under Christophe Galtier this season and hold the upper hand heading into this game. The defending French champions defeated Nice 2-1 in their most recent game, and a win against Benfica will put PSG well on their way to the knockout stages. While this clash has all the makings of a potential banana skin, PSG will look to take it up a notch this week.
The hosts can take some encouragement from the last meeting between the two sides in the 2013/14 group stage in the UEFA Champions League. Benfica has come from a goal down to secure a 2-1 home win over PSG. The Hard Tackle now takes a look at how both sides could set up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
SL Benfica
Modo #UCL 🔛#SLBPSG pic.twitter.com/0umtmZjG5W
— SL Benfica (@SLBenfica) October 4, 2022
Benfica will take to the pitch without the services of the Brazilian defensive trio of Lucas Verissimo (knee), Morato (ankle), and Joao Victor (muscle), who have all been ruled out here due to respective injury issues.
Roger Schmidt is unlikely to deviate from the 4-2-3-1 formation that has brought him much success this season. The Benfica boss will likely name the same XI that took the field in the draw against Vitoria SC at the weekend.
The Eagles play a lively and vibrant brand of football, which Benfica fans have been dreaming of for so long. The team has a clear style, the ability from set-pieces, and their workhorse attitude to sustain a high press means they can give PSG a run for their money despite having inferior quality on paper.
Odysseas Vlachodimos will play between the sticks for Benfica after shipping in only one goal in his last five outings. An injury crisis in defence means 18-year-old Antonio Silva will continue to partner veteran Nicolas Otamendi at the heart of the Benfica backline.
They will be flanked by the advancing full-back duo of Alexander Bah and Alex Grimaldo, with the latter, linked with several European heavyweights, also responsible for delivering quality crosses into the opposition box to feed striker Goncalo Ramos. The 21-year-old is running hot this season with 14 goal contributions from just 12 competitive outings.
The duo of Florentino Luis and Gedson Fernandes will form the double pivot and will be tasked with keeping Lionel Messi quiet. Rafa Silva holds the key to this Benfica side. Most of their attacking plays goes through him, with the diminutive playmaker having the ability to engineer some clear-cut chances for himself as well.
Meanwhile, David Neres and Joao Mario will look to give a good account of themselves out wide. Julian Draxler will have to settle for a spot on the bench as he waits for his chance to impress in the second half if Schmidt decides to call upon his services against his former club.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Vlachodimos; Bah, Antonio Silva, Otamendi, Grimaldo; Florentino, Fernandes; Neres, Rafa Silva, Mario; Ramos
Paris Saint-Germain
Marco Verratti (calf) and Presnel Kimpembe (hamstring) will remain sidelined until the end of October with their respective injury problems. Meanwhile, Renato Sanches has been dealing with an issue with his hamstring and was forced off after playing only 16 minutes as a substitute against OGC Nice.
Otherwise, Christophe Galtier is well-stocked for the trip to Lisbon. The PSG boss will deploy a 3-4-3/3-4-2-1 formation that has offered so much balance to his star-studded side. Gianluigi Donnarumma will start between the sticks behind a back three of Nordi Mukiele, Marquinhos and Sergio Ramos.
Final training session before #SLBPSG ⚽️#UCL pic.twitter.com/WZYBhiqWrs
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) October 4, 2022
Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes will man the wing-back positions, bombing up and down their respective flanks. Going up against equally dynamic full-backs in Alexander Bah and Alejandro Grimaldo, the wing battle will be an intriguing watch. Danilo Pereira is likely to pair up with Vitinha in the middle of the park to offer additional defensive nous, with Fabian Ruiz another option available off the bench.
The front three pretty much pick themselves, Kylian Mbappe was rested against Nice and should return here to displace Hugo Ekitike in the central striker position. Meanwhile, Neymar and Lionel Messi are a joy to watch this season when in full flow.
Despite his advancing years, Messi still has the legs to burst past a couple of defenders and be a buzzing presence. But he has convinced himself that he could be just as useful pulling the string from the right-sided inverted half-space position and churning chances for his teammates.
As for Neymar, he is undoubtedly playing his best football in years and has the golden chance of winning the Ballon d’Or next year should he deliver the UEFA Champions League and the World Cup for PSG and Brazil, respectively, this season.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Donnarumma; Mukiele, Marquinhos, Ramos; Hakimi, Vitinha, Danilo Pereira, Mendes; Messi, Neymar; Mbappe
Key Stats
- Benfica and PSG will meet for the seventh time in European competition, with the Portuguese side having half of the past six (W3 D1 L2).
- Paris Saint-Germain have never won an away match against Benfica in European competition, losing on all of their last three trips to the Estadio da Luz.
- Benfica have won their past five home games against French opponents in European competitions, including wins against Lyon, Lille, PSG, and Monaco.
- PSG have only lost one of their last 11 games in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League (W8 D2), a 2-1 loss coming away to Manchester City in November 2021.
- The hosts boast a strong record at Estadio da Luz, having won five of their last six home games in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League (L1).
Player to Watch
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi vs. OGC Nice. Enjoy. 🔥pic.twitter.com/JNMoEhnwec
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) October 2, 2022
At 35 years old, Messi continues to prove that he still has a lot left in the tank as he continues to amaze football fans with his technical elegance and sheer brilliance. Messi has readjusted his style of play by assuming more of a creative facilitator role in the side this season. And he fits that job profile like a glove.
On top of his seven goals, Messi also has eight assists in all competitions for PSG, seven of which have arrived in Ligue 1. He recently grabbed the spotlight with a spectacular free-kick in their 2-1 win over OGC Nice on Saturday.
While Messi may not be the leading scorer for PSG this season, his impact on the team’s attacking play and overall performance could well be beneficial to the Parisians’ Champions League aspirations this season.
Prediction
Benfica 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain
This encounter is likely to be entertaining, with both rising and renowned talents getting involved. Both Benfica and PSG have made a strong start to their domestic and Champions League campaigns and will try to maintain the momentum.
As ever, PSG are heavy favourites heading into this game. The fantastic attacking trifecta of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe are finally complementing each other and blowing their opponents out of the water on a regular basis. However, it would be foolish to write off Benfica, especially after their almost perfect winning record this season.
The Portuguese champions have delivered some complete displays in Europe in recent times, including the most recent scalp of Juventus. Benfica defend and attack well and can pose a real threat to PSG. Roger Schmidt’s side have scored 15 goals across their last five home games, winning their last six Champions League matches.
So, expect Benfica to give it a real go and cause a fair few problems for Christophe Galtier’s PSG. The Hard Tackle, though, predicts the visitors to deliver a good display and get the job done with a narrow 2-1 victory.
