Newcastle vs Benfica Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

19:00
21
St James Park

Newcastle

Benfica

TNT Sports 2

Under 2.5 Match Goals

Reason for tip

With a 2-1 loss at Brighton following a 4-0 rout of Union Saint-Gilloise, Newcastle are still struggling for consistency and that could see them frustrated by Benfica, who are managed by master tactician Jose Mourinho. Under 2.5 goals has been a winning bet in four of the Eagles’ last five matches and appeals again.

11/10odds when tipped

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Newcastle 1-0

Reason for tip

While Benfica may hold out for a while at St James’ Park, there is every chance the hosts eventually find a way through their stubborn defence. The Magpies boast plenty of talented attackers and have failed to score in just one of their last eight games, netting 14 times in that run.

13/2odds when tipped

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Nick Woltemade To Score Anytime

Reason for tip

Alexander Isak, who? Nick Woltemade has expertly filled the void left by the Swede at Newcastle, bagging four goals in his last five games for the Magpies, and the free-scoring German is fancied to find the net again.

7/5odds when tipped

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Newcastle have won three and lost three of their six home matches
Benfica have conceded just three goals in their six games under Jose Mourinho
Under 2.5 goals has been a winning bet in four of Benfica’s last five matches

Expect a low-scoring struggle at St James’ Park

Newcastle’s return to Europe’s top table has embodied the rest of their season, with consistency proving hard to come by for Eddie Howe’s side.

The Magpies have alternated between wins and losses in their home matches this season and the same is true of their Champions League outings as they followed up a narrow 2-1 defeat to Barcelona with a 4-0 rout of Union Saint-Gilloise.

That victory in Belgium should have them feeling confident ahead of a visit from Jose Mourinho’s Benfica but Howe’s side had their momentum dented by Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Brighton and their lack of fluency could see them forced into a cagey encounter with the Portuguese giants.

Magpies may just edge things on Tyneside

Scoring goals clearly wasn’t an issue for the Magpies in Anderlecht but Mourinho’s tactics need no introduction and Benfica, a side who opened the campaign with seven straight clean sheets, will look to frustrate their hosts on Tyneside.

Mourinho’s defensive brilliance is shining through, with the Eagles shipping just three goals in six games under the experienced Portuguese, and Under 2.5 goals appeals given it has landed in four of Benfica’s last five matches.

Newcastle’s games are often more frantic but they have scored more than once in just three of their last nine matches and, with Benfica likely to sit deep, a low-scoring clash is expected.

A close match is expected but correct-score backers should consider siding with the Magpies to win 1-0, given that was the result when Benfica’s last Champions League game, a defeat at Stamford Bridge.

German goal machine could continue scoring streak

The pace of Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga should pose plenty of problems for the Eagles but it is hard to look past Nick Woltemade when it comes to an anytime-goalscorer bet.

The German forward has scored five goals in his last six appearances for club and country, suggesting he is in the right kind of form to hurt a Benfica defence which conceded three times against Qarabag in the Champions League last month.