Match Overview

This 4th-round match of the 2025/26 UEFA group stage will see Benfica (Portugal) face Bayer Leverkusen (Germany) on November 5 at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon. Here’s our detailed prediction, along with odds and statistics, for the Benfica vs Bayer Leverkusen encounter.

Benfica Team Analysis

Recent Form and Standing

José Mourinho’s side suffered another defeat in the previous round, falling to Newcastle on their home turf with a 0:3 scoreline. This loss marks Benfica’s third consecutive defeat in the , having also failed to score in their last two matches. Furthermore, they have conceded three goals twice in the current edition of this European competition. In the group stage standings, the Lisbon club has yet to secure any points and currently sits in the penultimate position.

Home Performance Statistics

• The club has not secured a win in 6 of their last 8 home matches (2 draws, 4 losses).
• The team conceded goals in 12 of their previous 16 home fixtures in this European competition.
• The Lisbon outfit has scored in the first half in 5 of their last 6 home encounters.

Benfica’s Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)

Expected Starting XI

Anatoliy Trubin – António Silva, Tomás Araújo, Nicolás Otamendi, Amar Dedić – Richard Ríos, Enzo Barrenechea, Georgiy Sudakov – Fredrik Aursnes, Evangelos Pavlidis, Dodi Lukebakio.

Player Injuries

Defender Alexander Bah, midfielder Nuno Félix, and forward Bruma are currently sidelined due to injury.

Bayer Leverkusen Team Analysis

Recent Performance and Standing

In the previous round, Kasper Hjulmand’s men suffered a crushing 2:7 defeat at home against PSG. This marked the first time since 2013 that Bayer Leverkusen lost a match by a five-goal margin. Despite this, the team managed to score at least two goals for only the third time in their last eight European fixtures. Overall, the club’s winless streak in the has now reached five matches (2 draws, 3 losses). With two points to their name, Leverkusen currently finds itself in the group standings.

Away Form Statistics

• The team has not secured a victory in 8 of their last 9 away matches (3 draws, 5 losses).
• At least one opponent failed to score in 9 of the club’s previous 12 away European fixtures.
• Leverkusen conceded at least two goals in 6 of their 8 away games.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Predicted Lineup (3-4-3)

Expected Starting XI

Mark Flekken – Loïc Badé, Jarell Quansah, Edmond Tapsoba – Arthur, Alex Grimaldo, Ignacio Fernández, Aleix García – Claudio Echeverri, Kristijan Kofana, Ernest Poku.

Player Absences

Defender Axel Tuanzebe, along with midfielders Ignacio Fernández, Malik Tillman, Exequiel Palacios, and Nathan Tella, are unavailable due to injuries. Midfielder Robert Andrich is suspended.

Match Official

Referee Profile

Simone Sozza (England)

Referee Statistics

Matches officiated – 10 (International fixtures, 2024/25–2025/26);

Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 44;

Average yellow cards per match – 4.4;

Red cards shown – 2;

Average fouls per match – 21;

Penalties awarded – 20%.

Match Prediction: Benfica vs Bayer Leverkusen

Benfica’s Offensive Strength

Despite their poor results in the current campaign, the Lisbon side is quite capable of delivering a vibrant performance on their home turf. Previously, Benfica, although not always achieving the desired results, has been effective in attack: in their last ten home matches, the team failed to score against opponents only twice. Furthermore, in six of these instances, the club’s players netted at least twice, and against Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, and Inter, the Portuguese team scored a minimum of three goals.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Defensive Vulnerabilities

Bayer Leverkusen, meanwhile, may once again suffer due to their vulnerable defense. In the previous round, the team conceded seven goals at home against PSG, and on the road, the Germans have not consistently displayed high-quality defensive actions around their own goal. In their last eight away encounters, the club kept a clean sheet only once, and in six of those matches, Leverkusen conceded at least two goals.

Final Prediction

I anticipate the hosts will score multiple goals in this encounter, and my prediction is: Benfica Total Goals Over 1.5 with odds of 1.87.