Benfica vs Southampton predictions for this friendly pre-season game that will take place at St George’s Park. Will the Saints avoid defeat against the Portuguese giants at St George’s Park? Read on for all our free betting tips and predictions.
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Match Live Wednesday, 12h July at 3:00 pm In:
Benfica vs Southampton Predictions
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Powerhouse Benfica Clash with Relegated Southampton
Key Stats
– Southampton endured a forgettable season with a staggering 25 losses in 38 Premier League games.
– Despite Southampton’s relegation, key player James Ward-Prowse managed to score nine goals, indicating a potential goal-scoring opportunity in the friendly.
On Wednesday, the stage is set at St George’s Park for a pre-season friendly showdown between the Portuguese football titan Benfica and the recently demoted English team, Southampton. The last season saw a dramatic disparity in their respective performances. The Portuguese league was dominated by Benfica, who secured their first Primeira Liga title since 2018-19, whereas the Saints were on the receiving end of an unfortunate relegation from the Premier League.
Benfica: The Reigning Portuguese Champions
Last season, Benfica put up a stunning performance, only losing three times in 34 matches. Their impressive stats include 82 goals scored and just 20 conceded. Even their fierce rivals, Porto, were left trailing two points behind. Their indomitable march to the title was the outcome of Roger Schmidt’s tenacious leadership.
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Moreover, the Portuguese champs’ stellar performance wasn’t limited to the domestic front. They demonstrated their prowess in the Champions League as well, going unbeaten against teams like Paris Saint-German, Juventus, and Maccabi Haifa, making it to the quarter-finals. However, they were eventually knocked out by finalists Inter Milan in a 5-3 aggregate defeat.
Considering their commendable track record, the Portuguese titans will be looking to begin their 2023-24 preparations on a high note.
Southampton: A Season to Forget
In contrast to Benfica, Southampton endured a challenging 2022-23 campaign. The Saints lost a staggering 25 of their 38 Premier League matches, resulting in their unfortunate relegation to the Championship, ending an 11-year stint in the top-flight.
The team’s downward spiral began with the dismissal of Ralph Hasenhuttl, whose replacement, Nathan Jones, failed to turn the tide. Even ex-Valencia Under-18 manager Ruben Selles couldn’t save the Saints from their inevitable relegation. Now, former MK Dons and Swansea City coach Russell Martin has been entrusted with the task of navigating Southampton’s promotion bid in the 2023-24 season.
This match against Benfica is likely to be a challenging first test for Martin, who’ll be keen to assess his squad and build a cohesive unit.
Injury Updates and Transfers
Injury concerns continue to loom over both teams. Benfica’s Andre Gomes is still on the bench due to an injury, while Southampton’s Spanish teen Juan Larios remains sidelined.
Benfica’s squad has been bolstered by the high-profile arrivals of Angel Di Maria and Orkun Kokcu this summer, which could potentially impact the game at St George’s Park. Meanwhile, Southampton have seen the departure of key players like Theo Walcott and Mohamed Elyounoussi, without any fresh recruits.
Analysis and Predictions
Given the stark contrast in form and recent results, our BettingTips4You Expert Rating suggests that Benfica is likely to dominate the game. Southampton’s underwhelming season and lack of reinforcements make it challenging to compete against the Portuguese champions.
Our primary prediction is that both teams will score. Despite the difference in their strengths, both Benfica and Southampton have demonstrated their ability to find the back of the net. While Benfica’s strong offence and the likes of Gonçalo Ramos, João Mário, and Rafa Silva ensure a high likelihood of goals, Southampton’s key player James Ward-Prowse’s scoring prowess cannot be ignored. Additionally, both teams are still in the first phase of their preparation, so this can increase the likelihood of goals from both ends.
Our second prediction is a 2-1 victory in favour of Benfica in the correct score market. This prediction is derived from Benfica’s high scoring rate and Southampton’s track record of conceding almost two goals per game last season.
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