Spartak Moscow vs Benfica Predictions

• Both teams have scored in three of Benfica’s last five games.
• Spartak have only failed to score in two of their last nine home fixtures.
• Spartak boss Rui Vitoria has lost 13 of his 21 games against Benfica manager Jorge Jesus (W4, L4)

Expect goals as Spartak face Benfica

Spartak Moscow meet Benfica in the third round of Champions League qualifying on Wednesday in Moscow and we’re expecting goals at both ends.

Spartak have played two games so far in the Russian Premier League, with one win and one draw, while this will be Benfica’s first competitive game of the new season.

The Lisbon giants have enjoyed a productive pre-season though, with five wins and two draws in seven games.  Benfica have raised their level of opposition in their most recent friendly games and managed a 1-0 over French champions Lille before a 1-1 draw with Marseille.

New Spartak boss Rui Vitoria had four years in charge of Benfica up to 2019 and as such should know the Portuguese side fairly well.  However, Vitoria has faced counterpart Jorge Jesus 21 times before as an opposing manager and has a poor record against the current Benfica manager with four wins, four draws and 13 defeats.

The Moscow club will be looking to make the most of their home advantage before the second leg in Lisbon and this could be a tight game.  Both of Spartak’s games so far this season have been away from home, but going back to last season they have only failed to score in two of their last nine competitive home games.  Both teams have scored in three of Benfica’s last five away games and we feel both teams to score stands out as a good option in this fairly evenly matched tie, while Jesus’ record against Vitoria suggests a narrow away win could be on the cards and a 2-1 win for Benfica has some appeal in the correct score market.

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