Benfica vs Qarabağ

Two-time European Cup winners Benfica are enjoying a revival on the continental stage, having reached the UCL knockouts in three of the last five seasons. Bruno Lage’s men had to negotiate qualifiers this time around but did so in style, dispatching Fenerbahçe and Nice without conceding across four games [3W, 1D]. The Eagles remain unbeaten in 2025/26 [7W, 2D] in the league, most recently drawing 1-1 with Santa Clara on Friday, and are yet to trail in a single match this campaign. This is Benfica’s 45th European Cup/Champions League campaign, a tally bettered only by Real Madrid [56]. The Eagles have won two of their last three Matchday One fixtures in this competition, and with Vangelis Pavlidis in form – unbeaten across the last 19 matches in which he has scored [15W, 4D] – the Glorious One will be hopeful of laying down an early marker. Moreover, five of their seven home goals this term have arrived before half-time, suggesting they’ll look to impose themselves early again. A growing injury list, which includes Amar Dedić and Dodi Lukébakio, is a complication for the Eagles, but Estádio da Luz remains a daunting place for any visitor. A 4—2—3—1 formation may be deployed with Pavlidis leading the line.

For Qarabağ, this represents just their second appearance in the UCL proper after debuting in 2017/18. The Horsemen are Azerbaijan’s sole representatives at this level, having secured qualification by navigating ties against Shelbourne, Shkëndija and Ferencváros. Their league form is less convincing, with Friday’s 1-1 draw against Zira leaving them with only one win from their last four outings [1W, 1D, 2L]. That hardly inspires confidence ahead of a campaign in which they’ll hope to avoid a repeat of last season’s Europa League collapse, where they lost seven of eight group games [1W, 7L] while conceding multiple goals in six of those defeats. Qarabağ’s European record against Portuguese opposition is mixed, losing twice to Sporting CP in the 2018/19 Europa League group stage but famously knocking out Braga 6-5 on aggregate in last season’s UEL play-offs. Leandro Andrade, who netted three times in qualifying, could be their main threat here, although they’ll be without Joni Montiel and Aleksey Isayev, both omitted from the UCL squad. With just one previous point gained from a UCL away match, the Horsemen face an uphill battle against a Benfica side brimming with momentum. Coach Gurban Gurbanov may opt for a 3—4—2—1 pattern with Nariman Akhundzade spearheading the attack.