Mourinho's Fortress Welcomes a Wounded Leverkusen
The Estádio da Luz in Lisbon is set for a tactical battle of contrasting momentum as José Mourinho’s Benfica hosts a Bayer Leverkusen side licking its wounds from a historic defeat. This is a classic clash of a resilient home side against an opponent known for its attacking flair but coming off a devastating result.
The historical data favors the Portuguese giants. Benfica has only lost once in six previous meetings with Leverkusen and remains unbeaten in three home games against them. Manager José Mourinho will also lean on recent psychological dominance; his Roma side eliminated a Xabi Alonso-led Leverkusen from the 2022-23 Europa League semi-finals, keeping clean sheets in both legs. He knows how to set up a team to stifle the German side.
Currently, Benfica is on a worrying trajectory, having lost five Champions League games in a row. Another loss would see them equal a dismal streak from 2017-18. Leverkusen, meanwhile, is reeling from a 7-2 demolition at the hands of PSG. That was only the second time in their 284-game European history that they’ve conceded seven goals, a defensive collapse that is completely out of character.
The underlying numbers are concerning for Leverkusen. They have suffered the most build-up attacks against them in the competition (20) and their manager, Kasper Hjulmand, remains winless in nine Champions League games, conceding a staggering 32 goals in the process. His average of 3.6 goals against per game is the worst of any manager with at least nine matches under their belt.
The Glimmer of Hope:
For Benfica, all attacking hopes rest on the shoulders of Vangelis Pavlidis. The Greek striker has been phenomenal at home, scoring five goals in his last four UCL appearances at the Luz. He has been directly involved in a remarkable 67% of Benfica’s home goals in the competition this year.
Leverkusen will look to midfielder Aleix GarcÃa to spark a revival. Not only did he complete the most passes for his side in the PSG drubbing, but he also scored twice, showcasing an unexpected goal threat. This match promises to be a test of resilience. Can Benfica’s historical edge and Mourinho’s pragmatism overcome a Leverkusen side desperate for redemption?
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