Benfica vs RB Leipzig Preview & Prediction

Benfica welcome RB Leipzig to Estadio da Luz on Tuesday for their first game in group G of the Champions League.

No draw has been registered in Benfica’s last twenty matches, the Portuguese side lost just three of those and won seventeen encounters, including the last three. RB Leipzig are unbeaten in their last five matches and were on a four game winning streak, prior to their weekend clash with Bayern Munich.

Benfica and RB Leipzig have met just once so far for a friendly tournament Emirates Cup, and was won by the German side by 2:0. A Marcel Halstenberg 19th minute strike opened the scoring in the first half, and soon after the renewal Marvin Compper added another.

THE TEAM NEWS

BENFICA

Benfica have won five of their six games this season and conceding just two goals in the process.

Their good form has come despite missing various players through injury with as many as seven potentially ruled out right now.

Taarabt has been playing in a central midfield role in recent games but Bruno Lage may be tempted to bring Samaris into that position here.

Predicted line-up (4-4-2): Vlachodimos; Andre Almeida, Ruben Dias, Francisco Ferreira, Alex Grimaldo; Pizzi, Florentino Luis, Taarabt, Rafa Silva; Raul de Tomas, Seferovic

Unavailable: Ebuehi (Injured), Conti (Injured), Gedson Fernandes (Injured), Carlos Vinicius (Injured), David Tavares (Injured), Chiquinho (Injured)

Doubtful: Gabriel (Injured)

RB LEIPZIG

Leipzig sit top of the Bundesliga after four games.

Boss Julian Nagelsman continues to switch between a back three and four, but he may revert to an orthodox 4-4-2 to face Benfica here.

Kampl missed the game at the weekend but he is expected to make the squad here and he is competing with Nkunku for a starting spot.

Predicted line-up (4-4-2): Gulacsi; Klostermann, Konate, Orban, Halstenberg; Sabitzer, Laimer, Kampl, Forsberg; Werner, Poulsen

Unavailable: Wolf (Injured), Ilsanker (Ineligible)

Doubtful: Adams (Injured), Upamecano (Injured), Kampl (Injured)