Benfica vs Fenerbahce Prediction, Preview, News, Odds: 27/8/2025

Benfica and Fenerbahçe meet in Lisbon for the decisive second leg of their Champions League playoff, with both clubs carrying high ambitions and plenty of pressure. After a tense 0–0 draw in Istanbul, everything will be decided in Portugal, where the Eagles aim to extend their strong home form while the Turkish side dreams of a long-awaited return to Europe’s biggest stage.

Benfica Holding the Edge

For Benfica, avoiding defeat in Turkey was the minimum requirement. Last season’s quarterfinalists showed resilience, with goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin pulling off crucial saves to deny Fenerbahçe. Bruno Lage’s men entered the tie in excellent form, having eliminated Nice in the previous round with back-to-back clean-sheet victories (2–0 and 2–0), lifted the Portuguese Super Cup against Sporting (1–0), and begun their domestic campaign with a narrow win at Estrela (1–0).

Over the weekend, Benfica used a league match against Tondela as a tune-up, fine-tuning their rhythm ahead of this decisive playoff. Despite a solid run, Lage will have to cope without midfielder Florentino Luís, who is suspended following his dismissal in the first leg. Still, leaders like Nicolás Otamendi, Antonio Silva, and Fredrik Aursnes remain pillars in a largely unchanged lineup, while striker Vangelis Pavlidis is expected to shoulder the scoring burden once again.

Fenerbahçe Facing Uphill Battle

For José Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe, the challenge is daunting: they must win away in Portugal to reach the Champions League group stage for the first time in 17 years. The Turkish vice-champions already staged a dramatic comeback in the previous round, overcoming Feyenoord 6–4 on aggregate. However, their inability to secure victory at home in the first leg against Benfica leaves them with no margin for error.

Domestically, the club looked to regain confidence by facing newly promoted Kocaelispor on Saturday, hoping to sharpen their attack ahead of the trip to Lisbon. In the squad, Mourinho continues to deal with injury setbacks—defender Rodrigo Becão and full-back Mimovic remain unavailable, while midfielder Mert Yandaş and striker Cenk Tosun are also sidelined. New recruit Dorgeles Nene is not yet eligible, and Mexican midfielder Edson Álvarez, recently signed from West Ham, cannot feature in this round.

In attack, much responsibility will fall on Youssef En-Nesyri—whose goal was chalked off for offside in the first leg—and Jhon Durán, brought in on loan from Al-Nassr to replace Edin Džeko, who departed for Fiorentina this summer. Mourinho will need his forwards to deliver if they are to cause an upset in Lisbon.

Tactical and Emotional Context

Benfica’s home advantage could prove decisive. The Eagles have won eight of their last nine matches at the Estádio da Luz, building a fortress-like reputation. Meanwhile, Fenerbahçe’s away record is a glaring weakness—they have failed to win in 15 consecutive European away matches, losing five in a row in the process.

Both clubs are navigating transitional moments. For Benfica, maintaining momentum is vital after near misses in recent European campaigns. For Fenerbahçe, this tie represents both an opportunity to return to the Champions League spotlight and a test of Mourinho’s ability to deliver immediate results.

Prediction

Given Benfica’s dominant home form and Fenerbahçe’s struggles on the road, the Portuguese side appear heavy favorites. The balance of talent, discipline in defense, and Pavlidis’ sharpness up front suggest Benfica will have the tools to secure a comfortable win.

Prediction: Benfica 3:0 Fenerbahçe