Our prediction for this match:
Borussia Dortmund
Match Time & Date:
25/07/2018
08:00 PM
Prediction: 1-1
Benfica
Following a hard-fought 1-0 win over Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund played out a 1-1 draw with Liverpool in their second game at the 2018 International Champions Cup. The Millionaires aim to return to winning ways and they are seen as favourites to win Sunday’s football game against Benfica. Pacey winger Christian Pulisic has been producing fine performances at the tournament in USA, meaning that the opposition defenders should have him at bay. The Eagles, on the other hand, proved their worth in a 1-0 win over Sevilla, with the team extending their unbeaten run in pre-season to three games. Borussia Dortmund head into the match without several first-team regulars, which is probably the main reason why we are tempted to put our money on draw. When the two teams met in the 2016/2017 Champions League campaign Borussia Dortmund outplayed Benfica.
Highlighted Player (Mario Gotze):
Mario Gotze is a German midfielder, who played for Ronsberg and Eintrach Hombruch during his youth career before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2001. He made a great progress during his spell at the Borussia Dortmund’s youth academy and on 21 November, 2009 he made his Bundesliga debut for the Millionaires.
Gotze scored 22 goals in 83 league appearances for the club between 2009 and 2013 and he joined Borussia Dortmund’s bitterest rivals Bayern Munich on April, 2013. The German midfielder, who is capable of playing as a striker as well, failed to impress in the 2015/2016 Bundesliga campaign, but it has to be noted that he was struggling with injury at the start of the season.
Gotze won three Bundesliga trophies with Bayern Munich, but at the end of the 2015/2016 season he returned to Borussia Dortmund. In 2014 he represented Germany at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil and he scored the winner in the final against Argentina. Mario Gotze was born in Memmingen on 3 June, 1992.
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.
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