Benfica vs Leverkusen Prediction 5 November 2025
๐ Will Benfica secure their first points in the Champions League? In the fourth round, the Lisbon side will host Bayer Leverkusen at the Estรกdio da Luz. The Portuguese club has lost all three of their previous matches with a combined score of 2-7, while the German team suffered a similar 2-7 defeat to PSG in the last round. Bayer have yet to win in the tournament but have managed two draws. Despite this, bookmakers consider Benfica the favorites. Can either of these teams claim their first Champions League victory, or are we in for a draw?
Head-to-Head
๐ Over the past decade, the teams have not faced each other in official matches.
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
Benfica Lisbon Team Overview
๐ The Lisbon side continue to disappoint both Portuguese football fans and their own supporters on the European stage. Following a shocking home defeat to Qarabag (2-3), Mourinho has yet to stabilize the situation: the Eagles have traveled to England twice, suffering a narrow defeat to Chelsea (0-1) and a heavy loss to Newcastle (0-3). With such results, Benfica find themselves in 35th place, second from the bottom of the table. Another slip-up in the upcoming game could severely diminish their chances of reaching the top 24-and thus the round of 16. This is all while they still have fixtures against Ajax, Napoli, Juventus, and Real Madrid. Can Mourinho pull the team out of the Champions League doldrums? We'll find out after the match against Bayer.
๐ด Domestically, under Mourinho, Benfica remain unbeaten. After 10 rounds, they sit third in the Portuguese league, trailing Sporting by one point and Porto by four. After the defeat in Newcastle, the Eagles quickly bounced back: they thrashed Arouca (5-0) and Vitoria Guimaraes (3-0) in the Primeira Liga, and confidently beat Tondela (3-0) in the League Cup, advancing to the semifinals where they will face Braga. However, domestic competition can't compare to the Champions League level, making a victory over Bayer a significant challenge.
Match Results: Benfica Lisbon
Bayer Leverkusen Team Overview
๐ In the previous Champions League round, Bayer Leverkusen hosted the reigning champions, PSG, and suffered a heavy defeat (2-7). Before that, the "Pharmacists" had drawn twice - with Copenhagen (2-2) and PSV (1-1). Bayer currently sit in 30th place with two points and a goal difference of 5:10, with only Eintracht and Ajax conceding more (11 each). If Julmann's side lose in Portugal, they will swap places with Benfica, significantly diminishing their chances of advancing to the top 24. Ahead lies a challenging fixture list: Manchester City, Newcastle, Olympiacos, and Villarreal.
โซ After the defeat to PSG, the "Pharmacists" also struggled in the Bundesliga: last weekend, they suffered their first loss of the season, falling to Bayern Munich in Munich (0-3). Prior to that, they secured a victory over Freiburg (2-0). Bayer are now in fifth place with 17 points, three points shy of the top three. In the DFB-Pokal, they narrowly advanced past Paderborn (4-2 in extra time) and will face Borussia Dortmund away in the Round of 16.
Match Results: Bayer Leverkusen
Latest news
Benfica Lisbon
๐๏ธ Josรฉ Mourinho ahead of the match against Bayer: "What moved me the most was that after the defeat at Newcastle, during a time of criticism and pressure, the team made a comeback: they won three matches in a row, dominated, scored, and kept clean sheets. This opens the door to hope. Obviously, the Champions League is a different level of competition. If the Estรกdio da Luz was already on fire during the League Cup against Tondela, now I won't even need to ask the fans for support. We must give it our all."
โ Defender Amar Dediฤ might miss the match due to a muscle injury. Attacking player Bruma remains sidelined with an Achilles tendon issue.
Bayer Leverkusen
๐๏ธ Kasper Hjulmand after the match against Bayern: "They deserved the win. We had two great chances early on, but then we made too many defensive errors. We need to find a better rhythm and balance within the team. At times, our defense is too exposed - and opponents like Bayern ruthlessly exploit that. As always, we will thoroughly analyze the game and continue working on our match management."
โ The team faces significant personnel issues. Captain Robert Andrich is suspended following a red card against PSG. Injuries have sidelined Lucas Vazquez, Exequiel Palacios, Ezequiel Fernandez, Nathan Tella, and Axel Tuanzebe. Malik Tillman's participation is doubtful.
๐จ Referee and Yellow Cards
The match will be officiated by Simone Sozza. The Italian referee averages 3.5 yellow cards per game based on his last ten matches. We predict Bayer's individual total under 2.5 yellow cards - this outcome has been consistent in all three Champions League rounds and Bayer's last three matches consecutively.
โฝ Goal Prediction
Benfica have kept clean sheets in their last five matches in Portuguese competitions, but have conceded in every Champions League game. Notably, they have only played at home once, scoring their only goals of the tournament in that match. Bayer, on the other hand, have scored in every group stage match. We predict the German club will find the net again (Bayer to score), as Benfica struggle defensively against Champions League-level opposition.
๐ฉ Corner Prediction
Benfica have taken 21 corners over three Champions League matches (averaging 7 per game), while Bayer have taken 15 (averaging 5 per match). We opt for over 8.5 total corners, a scenario that has occurred in 7 of Bayer's last 8 away games.
Editorial Prediction
Can these teams be considered equals? In the current Champions League campaign, both Benfica and Bayer have struggled, although they appear much more confident in their domestic leagues. There's no doubt the "Eagles" will find the net at home, having scored in each of their nine matches this season at Estรกdio da Luz. Bayer, on the other hand, scored in 13 consecutive games before facing Bayern Munich. Therefore, our prediction is: both teams to score (yes), with a final scoreline of 1-1 in our view.
Betting Tips: Benfica Lisbon - Bayer Leverkusen
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in 8 of last 9 Simone Sozza games.
Comparison of Teams Stats
Other predictions
