Benfica v Manchester United Predictions & Betting Odds – 18th October 2017

United to cruise in Portugal

Manchester United
Manchester United © GEPA pictures

Benfica v Manchester United Betting Preview – UEFA Champions League 18th October 7.45pm

Benfica suffered their largest Champions League defeat as they were smashed 5-0 by Basel on Match Day Two. How did Manchester United fare against Basel? They hammered then 3-0 so this doesn’t look good for Benfica. The Portuguese outfit are floundering at the bottom of Group A with no points on the board while Manchester United have a 100% record from their opening games, both big wins. The Red Devils should be able to keep their momentum going and continue to press further supremacy at the top of the pile.

Benfica v Manchester United Betting Tips

It hasn’t been a great start to the campaign in Group A for Benfica who really need a win in this one to keep their qualification hopes realistically alive. That is because they have not picked up a point from their opening two games and they suffered their heaviest ever UEFA Champions League defeat on match day two. They were hammered 5-0 by FC Basel and that was after opening with a surprise home defeat against CSKA Moscow. So the Portuguese side are in a little bit of trouble in the group now and they aren’t exactly in great European form because they have won just one of their last six games in Europe home and away and are on a three match losing streak. With that having been said though, their loss against CSKA Moscow on match day one is their only defeat in their last 12 home games in Europe.

It is hard to see them taking a win in this one really. A draw is probably the best they could shoot for. Last season they picked up just four points from their three home games in the group stage, losing against Napoli, drawing with Besiktas and beaten Dynamo Kiev. They did manage to get out of the group last season though but they were stopped in the round of sixteen by Borussia Dortmund. Last season they won the double in Portugal but not even their current league form is really much to really inspire them to a win. This may be a tight game as United don’t need to break much of a sweet and under 2.5 goals at Paddy Power is a price of 4/5. Even though Benfica have to come out and throw something at this game, they probably don’t have the quality to really trouble Manchester United too much. The shortest priced options in the Paddy Power correct score market are the 1-1 draw and a 1-0 win for United at 11/2.

The Red Devils have played Benfica nine times before and United have won six of those nine games. They have lost just once against the Portuguese side before and that was back in December 2005. The most recent meetings were in the 2011/12 Champions League group stage when United won 1-0 in Portugal and drew 1-1 at home, ending up in third place in the group. Manchester United have comfortably won their opening matches in the group stage this season, beating Basel 3-0 at Old Trafford and then they hammered CSKA Moscow 4-1. The last time that Manchester United went to Portugal they took a 3-1 win at SC Braga in the 2012/13 Champions League Group Stage and they are on a three match winning streak there. The Red Devils have suffered just one loss in their last 14 European games (the Super Cup defeat against Real Madrid in the summer) in a W10 D3 L1 record and they are on a five match unbeaten streak of European form out on the road (W4 D2) since a loss against Fenerbahce on match day four of last season’s Europa League.

On the weekend Manchester United parked the bus at Anfield and earned a 0-0 draw, but other than that performance, they have been pretty positive this season in getting bodies forward, particularly on the counter attack. Romelu Lukaku is a Paddy Power 10/11 anytime goalscorer for the match and he is carrying enough form to do some damage to a Benfica defence which hasn’t withstood much so far this season. Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial are going as 7/4 joint second favourites. Defensively, and helped out by David de Gea between the sticks, United have been very strong at the back and you have a price of 15/8 at Paddy Power on Manchester United to win to nil. United are on an 11 match unbeaten streak of form in all competitions since losing to Real Madrid in the Super Cup, with nine wins in that sequence. You would expect them to get the better of a Benfica side who have won just two of their last seven games in all competitions.

Benfica v Manchester United Betting Odds

Man Utd 3/4, Draw 13/5, Benfica 15/4

Benfica v Manchester United Predictions

Manchester United to win: This should be a pretty routine victory for the Red Devils who are cruising already in an easy group. With the results that Benfica have put up so far, as desperate as they are, they aren’t going to make a big impact against the Premier League side. Back United to win to nil.