Champions League play-offs are all but assured for Benfica
Portuguese football powerhouse Benfica is set to compete in the Champions League play-off round, with the potential opponents being Fenerbahçe or Feyenoord. The first leg of this exciting encounter will take place at the Sükrü Saraçoğlu Stadium in Istanbul on August 20, 2025, while the second leg will be hosted at Benfica's Estádio da Luz on August 26 or 27, 2025.
Benfica's aim is to secure their fifth consecutive presence in the group stage of the Champions League. If successful, this would mark their 15th appearance in the group stage in the last 16 seasons. The match is scheduled for 20:00, with Italian referee Marco Guida officiating the second leg at Estádio da Luz.
Benfica has had a strong start to the season, with their first official home game being this Champions League play-off round match. This comes after their previous Liga match against Rio Ave was postponed due to European commitments.
In the first leg of the Champions League third preliminary round, Benfica secured a 2-0 victory against Nice. Key contributors to this win were players like Florentino, who scored a goal, and Ivanovic, who bagged a brace. However, the scores against Fenerbahçe or Feyenoord (if it occurs) have yet to be determined.
José Mourinho's team currently faces a disadvantage after losing 2-1 in the first leg against Feyenoord. Benfica needs to draw or lose by a one-goal margin to qualify for the Champions League play-off round.
It's important to note that Benfica failed to achieve this objective only in the 2020/21 season, when they were eliminated in the third preliminary round due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team is determined to bounce back from this setback and secure a place in the group stage of the Champions League.
In conclusion, Benfica is gearing up for a challenging encounter against Fenerbahçe or Feyenoord in the Champions League play-off round. The first leg will be played away in Istanbul, with the second leg set to take place at Estádio da Luz. The outcomes are clear: win the tie to advance to the Champions League group stage, or lose and drop to the Europa League group stage. Let's see if Benfica can secure their fifth consecutive presence in the group stage of the Champions League!
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