Wednesday 18th October 2017 Kickoff:1945hrs Benfica v Manchester United Football – Europe – Champions League It’s another away game for Manchester United and Jose Mourinho just days after their game at Anfield against Liverpool where Mourinho’s tactics were the subject of much discussion. This time they face a Benfica team who have endured an awful start to their Champions League campaign and have it all to do in this double header with United if they harbour any hopes of making the last 16. Their opponents, on the other hand, have maximum points from their two games and will be expecting to take another three points home with them from this one.
All Benfica have know recently is success such has been their dominance in Portugal and also performing relatively well in the Champions League. The fact they now find themselves in third spot in their domestic league will be hard to take, as well as being unusual. That has been compounded in the Champions League where they have been disappointing to say the least. A surprise 2-1 defeat at home to a team who have a laughably bad away record, CSKA Moscow, was followed by an embarrassing 5-0 reverse in Switzerland against Basel. They are performances and results we’ve not come to expect from Benfica and with back to back games against Manchester Untied ahead of them, they could well be sitting on zero points after four games and the prospect of no European football after Christmas. That in itself would be a shock as they were seen as favourites to fill second spot and qualify for the next stage of the Champions League.
The biggest surprise in the aftermath of the dull, goalless draw with Liverpool on Saturday was the reaction to Mourinho’s tactics as though we should have expected anything different. It’s been his way for as long as he has coached, particularly in England, and he’ll be delighted with the point gained at a difficult venue. That will be completely forgotten about now it’s in the past and attention switches to their attempts at forging further ahead in their section. United have not broken sweat in their wins over Basel at home before dismantling a CSKA Moscow team in the Russian capital. Mourinho would have picked this particular game out as being the toughest test for his team when the draw was made and although Benfica have struggled, they will almost certainly raise their game with the visit of one of Europe’s most prestigious clubs.
Benfica v Manchester United Betting Tip
Benfica have it all to do in this group and will likely have to win at least one of their games against United if they are to finish in second spot and qualify for the next stage. It’s been a disastrous start for them and you get the sense that they are going through a transitional period this season having lost a number of key players in the summer. United, and their former Porto manager, will have little sympathy however and will be looking to make a statement after the criticism they received of the weekend. I’m strongly fancying United to get the job done and ease their way to three points here and they look value to do just that.
Manchester United 17/20 @ Betway
