Newcastle Benfica 2025-10-21 22:00 Betting tips

Newcastle have been showing inconsistent results in the early phase of the season. In their last five matches across all competitions, the team has managed just one win – a 1:0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League. They recorded two goalless draws against Bournemouth and Leeds, as well as two defeats. In the Champions League, Newcastle lost 1:2 at home to Barcelona, and in the league, they were defeated 2:3 by Liverpool. Their current form points to issues with converting chances – in three of the five matches, the team failed to score or scored only once. Meanwhile, their defense looks more solid in the domestic league, conceding an average of 0.6 goals per game if the match against Liverpool is excluded.

Benfica approach the match with a run of two wins in the Primeira Liga, although the overall picture remains uneven. Following a 2:3 Champions League defeat to Qarabag and a draw with Santa Clara, the team drew 1:1 with Rio Ave, but then comfortably beat ABC 0:3 away and narrowly overcame Gil Vicente 2:1 at home. In three of their last five matches, "the Eagles" have conceded, indicating instability in their defensive setup. In the Champions League so far, Benfica sits in 30th place in the group, with 0 points and a goal difference of -2 after two matchdays.

Champions League group stage statistics show that both teams are in a difficult position in the tournament. Newcastle have played one match (a 1:2 loss to Barcelona), while Benfica have played two (defeats 0:1 to Ajax and 2:3 to Qarabag). Consequently, both teams are fighting for their first points in the competition, making this a crucial encounter. Newcastle's attacking potential is evident in home matches – in their last two games at St. James' Park, the team scored three goals (against Liverpool and Barcelona). Benfica have shown polar opposite results in their two away matches this season: a resounding 0:3 victory over ABC and a 0:1 defeat to Ajax in the UCL.

Tactically, Newcastle will rely on a high press and the use of set-pieces, aiming to dominate at home. The team possesses a physically powerful squad capable of imposing a physical battle in the center of the park. A key duel will be between Newcastle's wide attackers and the visitors' defense, which showed vulnerabilities in the match against Qarabag. Benfica, who traditionally prefer to control possession and build through positional attacks, might face problems against the hosts' aggressive pressing. However, the Portuguese side is dangerous on the counter-attack, particularly utilizing the pace of their wingers against Newcastle's potentially high defensive line.

A tight and competitive game is expected, with both teams eager to avoid a third consecutive defeat (for Benfica) and a second (for Newcastle) in the group. Newcastle have a slight advantage thanks to their home ground and a recently more reliable defensive line. Benfica have shown the ability to score in every match (they've scored in four of their last five games), but their defense raises questions. Given the tournament motivation and the need to secure points, the most likely outcome appears to be a Newcastle win by a narrow margin. Predicted score: 2:1.