Our prediction for this Champions League match:
Juventus will look to bounce back from a 2-1 loss to PSG when they take on Benfica in their second group game on Wednesday. The Bianconeri head into the match following a 2-2 draw with Salernitana, where both Juan Cuadrado and Arkadiusz Milik were sent off, but the duo will be available for selection against Benfica. All Angel Di Maria, Kaio Jorge, Paul Pogba, Marley Ake, Federico Chiesa, and Wojciech Szczesny are sidelined with injuries, while both Adrien Rabiot and Manuel Locatelli are major doubts.
The Eagles, on the other hand, proved their worth in a 2-0 win over Maccabi Haifa, and you should bear in mind that they are eyeing their 12th consecutive triumph in all competitions. Given the number of absentees in the home side, we are positive that the Portuguese side will grab something from Wednesday’s clash. The likes of Lucas Verissimo, Joao Victor, and Morato are injured for the away side.
Highlighted Player (Leonardo Bonucci):
Over the years Leonardo Bonucci has established himself as one of Juve’s key defenders. The 190-cm-tall centre back, who is capable of playing as a right back as well, was born in Viterbo on 1 May, 1987 and he started his senior career at Inter. However, he made no more than one league appearance for the Nerrazzurri between 2005 and 2009.
After ending his loan spells with the likes of Treviso and Pisa, he joined Bari in 2009 and he scored one goal in 38 league games for the club. Juventus signed him in July, 2010 for a fee of €15.5 million. Leonardo Bonucci won his fifth Scudetto with Juve in the 2015/2016 season and he played in the 2014/2015 Champions League final against Barcelona. However, the Bianconeri were beaten by Barca in the title game.
Bonucci made his Italy debut on 3 March, 2010 and two years later he participated in the Euro 2012 final against Spain. The Azzurri were hammered by Vicente del Bosque’s troops 4-0 in the Olympic Stadium clash.
Highlighted Team (Benfica):
Member of the ‘Big Three’ clubs in Portugal alongside FC Porto and CP Sporting, Sport Lisboa e Benfica are the football club that has never been relegated from the Primeira Liga. The club is nicknamed Aguias because of the Eagle symbol atop the club’s crest. Benfica play their home games at the Estadio da Luz which replaced the original one in 2003 and which boasts the capacity of more than 64,000. Arguably the most successful club in Portugal, Benfica have won a record of 35 Primeira Liga titles and also a record 25 Taca de Liga and 7 Taca da Liga trophies.
Two-time European Cup winners, Benfica are the club known for their diligent work with youth players, many of which went on to make great careers abroad. The most prominent players to wear a Benfica shirt are legendary Eusebio, Manuel Bento, Jorge Tavares and most recently Javier Saviola, Nuno Gomes, David Luiz and Angel Di Maria.