Club Brugge v Benfica predictions: Visitors look too strong for struggling hosts

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, Wednesday 8pm

Best bet

Benfica
2pts 5-6 general

Betting offers

• Paddy Power are giving away free bets to new and existing customers and all you need is an account. Sign up here
• Sky Bet are offering new customers multiple free bets when they sign up. Click here for free bets, money-back specials and BuildABet free bets
• Betfair have lots of offers and money back offers. Sign up for a new account here
• To get free bets from Ladbrokes today, simply sign up to a new account here
• Don't have a Coral account? They have an offer for new customers here
• New William Hill customers can claim free bets and benefit from their daily offers including Scratch Of The Day by clicking here

Team news

Club Brugge
Tajon Buchanan, Andreas Skov Olsen and Ferran Jutgla are all doubts.

Benfica
Roger Schmidt's side have a clean bill of health.

Match preview

Benfica have been one of the form teams in Europe this season and have impressed in the Champions League, going unbeaten in ten games, including beating Juventus home and away and securing a pair of 1-1 draws with Paris Saint-Germain.

They visit Club Brugge in the first leg of their round-of-16 tie and will be hoping to take full advantage of the poor form of the Belgians.

Scott Parker took over Brugge halfway through their current run in which they have won one of their last 11 games in all competitions and they face a steep task here.

Benfica have only lost one of their 37 matches this season and currently top the table in the Portuguese Primeira Liga.

Despite losing Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea in January, the visitors retain a talented squad and they are well-fancied to take a lead back to Portugal for the second leg.  

Key stat

Club Brugge have won only one of their last 11 games

Probable teams

Club Brugge (4-3-3): Mignolet; Mata, Hendry, Mechele, Meijer; Rits, Onyedika, Vanaken; Buchanan, Yaremchuk, Lang

Benfica (4-2-3-1): Vlachodimos; Bah, Silva, Otamendi, Grimaldo; Luis, Chiquinho; Mario, Neres, Aursnes; Guedes

Inside info

Club Brugge

Penalty taker Noa Lang/Hans Vanaken
Assist ace Hans Vanaken
Set-piece aerial threat Jack Hendry
Card magnet Raphael Onyedika

Benfica

Penalty taker Joao Mario
Assist ace Alex Grimaldo
Set-piece aerial threat Antonio Silva
Card magnet Nicolas Otamendi

Sign up to emails from Racing Post Sport and get all the latest news and tips

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport