Kick-off: 07/03/2023
Stadium: Estadio da Luz
TV: BT Sport
Benfica look in total control of their Champions League tie with Club Brugge after returning from the first leg in Belgium with a 2-0 lead.
The Eagles have a great home record this term and can now afford to take their time and play percentage football at Estadio da Luz.
We like 16/5 for Draw HT/Benfica FT as our initial Benfica vs Club Brugge prediction.
Eagles flying high this season
Benfica did come under some pressure early on at Jan Breydel Stadium and keeper Odisseas Vlachodimos had to be alert when Tajon Buchanan broke clear down the left.
Antonio Silva should have put the Eagles in front when heading over from seven yards out and Rafa Silva then hit the woodwork from close range.
Goncalo Ramos wasted another golden opportunity at the start of the second half but made amends by winning the penalty that Joao Mario successfully converted.
A defensive mix-up then allowed David Neres to double Benfica’s lead late on and put them in a great position to make the quarter-finals.
“It was a good first leg but we have one more game and we have to give everything,” said influential midfielder Fredrik Aursnes.
“Brugge did very well in the first half, especially in the beginning. I feel we reacted well after the first 25 minutes.”
The fact that Benfica, who are eight points clear at the top of Liga Portugal bwin, have had 15 wins and two draws from 17 home games this season makes qualifying look a formality.
Ramos bagged both goals in Friday’s 2-0 defeat of Famalicao here and is 10/3 to open the scoring in the Benfica vs Club Brugge odds.
No flying start for Parker
Former Fulham and Bournemouth boss Scott Parker was a surprise choice to manage Brugge following the dismissal of Carl Hoefkens at the end of December and he has not had an easy start.
He took charge when FCB were in fourth place in the Jupiler League and 12 points off the summit.
They are now fifth and 20 points adrift of leaders Genk after Friday’s 3-0 drubbing at Oostende made it just two wins in 11 matches under Parker.
The Londoner did his best to remain upbeat after the first-leg defeat by Benfica.
“Naturally, a 2-0 defeat isn’t something you can be happy with, but I have seen a lot of positives in this game, especially the first 20 minutes,” he declared.
“We showed bravery with the ball and after five weeks of coaching them, I’m finally seeing what I was looking for, but little mistakes lost us this game.”
Brugge can take heart from their last trip to Portugal, when thrashing Porto 4-0 at Estadio do Dragao during the group stage.
FCB also drew 0-0 away to Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen in that pool, but their recent form makes them hard to fancy here.
We’re backing the visitors to lose 2-0 to the Eagles again at 6/1 in our Benfica vs Club Brugge betting tips.
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