The Matchday 4 clash in the 2025/26 Champions League group stage between Benfica (Portugal) and Bayer (Germany) will take place on November 5 at Estádio da Luz in Lisbon. Benfica vs. Bayer: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Benfica
José Mourinho's side suffered another defeat in the last round, losing 0-3 away to Newcastle. As a result, Benfica has now lost three consecutive Champions League matches and failed to score in the last two. Additionally, the team has conceded three goals twice in this season's campaign. In the group standings, the Lisbon side is yet to earn a point and sits in the penultimate position.
- The club has failed to win 6 of their last 8 home matches in the Champions League (2 draws, 4 losses).
- The team has conceded in 12 of their last 16 home matches in this competition.
- Benfica has scored in the first half in 5 of their last 6 home Champions League games.
Predicted lineup for Benfica (4-3-3)
Anatoliy Trubin – António Silva, Tomás Araújo, Nicolás Otamendi, Amar Dedić – Richard Ríos, Enzo Barrenechea, Heorhii Sudakov – Fredrik Aursnes, Evangelos Pavlidis, Dodi Lukebakio.
Defender Alexander Bah, midfielders Manu Silva and Nuno Félix, and forward Bruma are injured.
Bayer
In the last round, Kasper Hjulmand's team suffered a crushing 2-7 defeat at home to PSG. This marked Bayer's first five-goal margin loss in the Champions League since 2013. However, the team managed to score at least two goals in only three of their last eight matches in this competition. Overall, the club's winless streak in the Champions League has reached five games (2 draws, 3 losses). Leverkusen sits in 30th place in the standings with two points.
- The team has not won 8 of their last 9 away matches in the Champions League (3 draws, 5 losses).
- At least one of the opponents failed to score in 9 of Bayer's last 12 away games in this competition.
- Leverkusen has conceded at least two goals in 6 of their last 8 away Champions League matches.
Predicted lineup for Bayer (3-4-3)
Mark Flekken – Loïc Badé, Jarell Quansah, Edmond Tapsoba – Arthur, Álex Grimaldo, Ignacio Fernández, Aleix García – Claudio Echeverri, Kristian Koffi, Ernest Poku.
Defender Axel Tuanzebe, midfielders Ignacio Fernández, Malik Tillman, Exequiel Palacios, and Nathan Tella are unavailable due to injuries. Midfielder Robert Andrich is suspended.
Referee
Simone Sozza (England)
Matches – 10 (International matches, 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 – 20%.
Match Prediction: Benfica vs. Bayer
Despite poor results in this season's Champions League, Benfica is capable of putting on a strong performance at home. Previously, while not always achieving the desired results, Benfica was effective in attack: in their last ten home Champions League matches, the team failed to score only twice. In six instances during this period, the club scored at least twice, and against Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, and Inter Milan, the Portuguese side netted at least three goals.
Bayer, meanwhile, could once again suffer from a vulnerable defense. In the last round, the team conceded seven goals at home to PSG, and on the road, the Germans have not excelled defensively. In their last eight away matches in the Champions League, the club kept a clean sheet only once, and in six encounters during this period, Leverkusen conceded at least two goals.
I expect the hosts to score several goals in this match, and my prediction: Benfica individual total over 1.5
