Benfica vs Club Brugge Predictions

• Brugge have won just two of their last 12 games
• Benfica have won by two clear goals in eight of their last nine matches
• The hosts have scored 14 times across their five home Champions League games this term
• Joao Mario has scored in four straight Champions League matches

Parker in trouble

After losing his job at Bournemouth, moving to Belgium seemed like an odd move for Scott Parker. After a torrid time in Bruge, that decision looks even worse.

The Belgian side were the Champions League’s surprise package after getting out of the group stage. However, their run has soured quickly, after a 2-0 home defeat in the first-leg to Benfica. The visitors are out of form and head to Lisbon looking lost as they try and turn around that first-leg deficit.

The visitors have won only two of their last 12 games and they were beaten 3-0 by Oostende at the weekend. Another heavy defeat looms as they head to meet the Portuguese league leaders.

Benfica making European run

Benfica are on the verge of making their first consecutive appearance in the European Cup last eight since 1969, after losing out to Liverpool in the last eight a year ago. The hosts have never lost in 10 previous home games against Belgian sides in all competitions (W8 D2), winning each of the last six in a row.

Club Brugge have lost five of their seven away games against Portuguese sides in all European competition, so the hosts are on course for a quarter-final berth. However, don’t expect them to settle for a draw in midweek as they try to continue some impressive form in 2023.

Joao Mario to fire Benfica through

Benfica have won eight of their last nine games ahead of Tuesday’s second-leg, with each of those wins coming by a two-goal margin or greater. At home they’ve won nine of their last 10 home games, while they’ve scored 14 times across their five home matches in this season’s Champions League.

The hosts should prove too strong for a Brugge side who are on the rocks. The visitors have plenty of attacking talent, especially given that Joao Mario has scored in each of his last four Champions League games. He’s also hit eight goals across his last eight games, so back him to strike in a comfortable Benfica win. With Brugge coming off the back of a heavy defeat, back a 3-0 victory for the hosts.