Benfica vs PSG match preview

By John


 Goals scored is all that separates Benfica and Paris Saint-Germain at the UEFA Champions League (UCL) Group H summit (W2) and the pair now clash on the back of impressive starts to their respective seasons. Current Liga Portugal leaders Benfica have been victorious in all but one of their eight league outings so far this season (D1), although that sole draw did come at the weekend as Benfica slumped to a goalless stalemate away to Vitória de Guimarães.


Benfica's coach Roger Schmid Benfica's coach Roger Schmidt insisted he was not "worried about the result" and a return to the Estádio da Luz should garner some confidence, given they've won all of their five home UCL matches against French opposition, including a 2-1 victory against PSG back in 2013! However, the Eagles have not won their opening two home games across their last four UCL group stage appearances, perhaps raising doubts over their credentials here.


It's been a dream start to 2022/23 for French champions PSG, who sit top of Ligue 1 in the early standings, with victory eluding them just once in 12 competitive outings this season (W11, D1). A 3-1 away win against Maccabi Haifa in their last UCL match also ended PSG's worrying five-game winless away run in the competition, and means Christophe Galtier could now become the club's third coach to win his opening three UCL matches with victory here.


It's unlikely to be an easy feat for Galtier to achieve, with PSG set for a tough test against a Benfica side who they've lost against in their previous three away European H2Hs, despite finding the net on all occasions. PSG's only win on Portuguese soil actually dates back to 2009 (W1, D1, L5) and was a 1-0 win against Braga, but history may not be relevant with the "MNM" in town, as the hottest trio in Europe of Messi, Neymar and Mbappé have scored 29 of PSG's 37 goals this season, including 100% in the UCL (five).


Players to watch: Benfica could rely on Rafa Silva for a good start as he's been the game's first scorer in three of their last five competitive matches. However with another goal here, Mbappé would edge ahead of Edinson Cavani (30 goals) as PSG's highest scorer in European history.

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