The Matchday 7 game of the group stage of the 2025/26 Champions League between Juventus (Italy) and Benfica (Portugal) will take place on 21 january at Allianz Stadium in Turin. Juventus vs Benfica: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Juventus
Juventus began their group stage campaign with four matches without a win (3 draws, 1 defeat). However, in the last two Champions League matches under Luciano Spalletti the home side managed to beat Bodo/Glimt away (3:2) and Pafos at home (2:0). Thus the home side have collected nine points and are positioned in 17th place in the play-off zone, and with a win could secure early qualification to the play-off matches. In addition, by keeping a clean sheet against the Cypriots the home side registered their first shutout in regular time in ten Champions League outings. It is worth noting that the Italians have lost only three of 12 home matches against Portuguese clubs (7 wins, 2 draws), although all three defeats came against Benfica.
- The team remained unbeaten in 6 of their last 8 home Champions League matches (4 wins, 2 draws).
- No more than two goals were scored in 5 of the club's previous 7 home matches in this competition.
- The hosts conceded at most one goal in 6 of their last 8 home Champions League matches.
Potential Juventus Lineup (4-5-1)
Juventus: Michele Di Gregorio – Andrea Cambiaso, Bremer, Lloyd Kelly, Pierre Kalulu – Francisco Conceição, Khephren Thuram, Manuel Locatelli, Weston McKennie, Kenan Yildiz – Jonathan David.
Defender Daniele Rugani and forward Dušan Vlahović are unavailable due to injuries.
Benfica
Benfica had a catastrophic start to the current Champions League: the visitors lost the first four rounds with an aggregate score of 2:8. However the visitors then picked up three points away at Ajax (2:0) and followed that with a home win over Napoli (2:0). As a result, six points allow the team to contend for a place in the play-offs – they occupy 25th place in the group stage standings, just one point behind the top-24. Even in the event of defeat the club will not be deprived of chances to reach the play-off matches. It is worth noting that Benfica have not lost in their last four matches against Italian clubs (2 wins, 2 draws).
- The team did not concede in the second half in 8 of their last 9 away Champions League matches (5 wins, 3 draws).
- No more than two goals were scored in 6 of the club's previous 8 away matches in this competition.
- The visitors conceded at most one goal in 6 of their last 8 away Champions League matches.
Potential Benfica Lineup (4-5-1)
Benfica: Anatoliy Trubin – Amar Dedić, Tomás Araújo, Nicolás Otamendi, Samuel Dal – Gianluca Prestianni, Georgiy Sudakov, Leandro Barreiro, Fredrik Aursnes, Andreas Skjelderup – Evangelos Pavlidis.
Defender Alexander Ba, midfielder Richard Rios, and forward Dodi Lukebakio will miss the game due to injuries.
Referee
Serdar Gözübüyük (Netherlands)
Matches – 5 (International matches, 2025/26);
Yellow Cards Shown (Including Second Yellows) – 28;
Average Yellow Cards Per Match – 5.6;
Red Cards Shown – 1;
Fouls Per Match – 28;
Penalties – 40%.
Juventus vs Benfica: Match Prediction
Juventus try to play as proactively as possible at home and put pressure on opponents' defence. Such an approach regularly produces goals: in the last 19 home Champions League matches the home side left the field without scoring only three times. Moreover, in ten of those games the club netted at least twice. In the current Champions League the club have scored seven goals in three home matches.
Benfica also do not have serious problems with scoring. In 23 previous away encounters in this competition the visitors failed to score in only five games, while in 13 matches during that period the team scored at least two goals. Moreover, in the two most recent visits to Juventus in the Champions League the visitors found the net twice on each occasion.
We expect an open game that will produce many goals.
Prediction: Over 2.5 goals
