Newcastle vs Benfica kick-off, date & TV info
Date Tuesday, October 21
Kick-off 8pm
Venue St James’ Park, Newcastle
Competition Premier League
TV TNT Sports 2
Newcastle host Jose Mourinho’s Benfica on matchday three of the Champions League, having lost 2-1 to Barcelona in their first game at St James’ Park.
Eddie Howe’s Magpies bounced back with a 4-0 away win over Union Saint-Gilloise while Mourinho’s men lost 1-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on matchday two.
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Newcastle vs Benfica betting tips & predictions
Best bet
Under 2.5 goals
2pts 11-10 general
Player cards
Richard Rios to be shown a card
9-5 Paddy Power
Longshot
Anthony Gordon to be first goalscorer
6-1 bet365, BoyleSports, Paddy Power
Newcastle vs Benfica preview
Jose Mourinho’s Benfica lost 1-0 to Chelsea on matchday two of the Champions League and they look set for another low-scoring trip to England on Tuesday.
Hosts Newcastle lost 2-1 to Barcelona in their opening fixture at St James’ Park before turning on the style in a 4-0 away win against Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise.
Comprehensive victories such as that one have been rare for the Magpies this term and under 2.5 goals looks the best bet when they take on Benfica.
Three of Newcastle’s first eight Premier League matches ended goalless and Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Brighton left them 13th in the table.
Injuries to dynamic young England full-backs Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall have hampered their progress and influential midfielder Joelinton went off at half-time at the Amex Stadium.
Striker Nick Woltemade has made an impressive start to his career on Tyneside, scoring four league goals – a tally that, Newcastle fans may have spotted, is four more than Alexander Isak has managed for Liverpool.
Newcastle have a decent set of Champions League fixtures, facing Athletic Bilbao, Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen and PSV Eindhoven before finishing the league phase at holders Paris Saint-Germain.
But the favourites may have to work hard for victory against Benfica, who sacked manager Bruno Lage after blowing a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 at home to Qarabag on matchday one.
Mourinho has won three of his first six games, against AVS and Gil Vicente in the league and Chaves in the cup, but his side drew a blank in their two toughest assignments.
An early Richard Rios own goal proved decisive at Stamford Bridge, where the teams managed only 17 shots between them, and Benfica drew 0-0 at Porto in their following game.
Robust Rios could end up in trouble with officials
Colombian midfielder Rios had a night to forget at Chelsea, hoofing a cross into the roof of his own net and picking up a yellow card early in the second half.
Rios, cautioned twice in five games for Palmeiras at the Club World Cup, has been booked in four of his first eight league appearances for Benfica and should be in the thick of the midfield scrap.
In-form Gordon looks a nice price to strike first
Anthony Gordon has made a fine start to the Champions League campaign, scoring three times in his first two games, and he notched first in England’s World Cup qualifying rout of Latvia last week.
Gordon is yet to score in this season’s Premier League but he averages 2.6 shots per 90 minutes and could land the first blow in a tight contest at St James’ Park.
Newcastle vs Benfica Bet Builder
Benfica to receive most cards
Newcastle’s first two Champions League opponents had eight yellow cards while the Magpies received only three and Benfica have a patchy disciplinary record in Portugal’s Primeira Liga.
Enzo Barrenechea to be shown a card
Benfica’s tough-tackling midfielder has been booked in five of his first seven league starts this term and may well add to his tally.
Sandro Tonali to have two or more shots
The Newcastle midfielder had two shots against Barcelona and Union Saint-Gilloise and has had at least two efforts on goal in three of his four home Premier League games.
Pays out at 15-2 with Paddy Power
Key stats for Newcastle vs Benfica
♦ Newcastle have won only five of their last 15 games in all competitions
♦ Three of the Magpies’ first eight Premier League matches ended 0-0
♦ Nick Woltemade has scored in his last five appearances for Newcastle and Germany
♦ Both teams have scored in only one of Benfica’s seven away matches
♦ Only one of Benfica’s 15 games this season had over 3.5 goals
Newcastle vs Benfica betting odds
Sign up with Betfair to bet on Newcastle vs Benfica in the Champions League. Here are the latest odds for Tuesday’s match.
MarketOddsNewcastle8-15Benfica4-1Draw13-5
Odds correct at time of publishing
Want more top football betting advice? Make sure you take a look at Racing Post Sport’s tips for more of the latest picks from our experts.
Newcastle vs Benfica team news and predicted line-ups
Newcastle
Sandro Tonali (illness) will be assessed and England full-backs Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall are injured. Summer signing Yoane Wissa (knee) remains sidelined and Lewis Miley should start in midfield after Joelinton went off at half-time against Brighton on Saturday.
Predicted line-up (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Guimaraes, Tonali, Miley; Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon
Subs: Thiaw, Elanga, Ramsey, Barnes, Osula, Willock, Joelinton
Benfica
Right-back Alexander Bah, winger Bruma and midfielder Manu Silva are sidelined for the visitors.
Predicted line-up (4-2-3-1): Trubin; Dedic, A Silva, Otamendi, Dahl; Rios, Barrenechea; Lukebakio, Sudakov, Aursnes; Pavlidis
Subs: T Araujo, H Araujo, Schjelderup, Barreiro, Ivanovic, Obrador, Rego
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Read more on the Champions League:
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Tuesday’s Champions League accumulator tips: Back our acca at 12-1 with bet365
FAQs for Newcastle vs Benfica
When is Newcastle vs Benfica in the Champions League?
Newcastle host Benfica on Matchday Three of the Champions League at 8pm BST on Tuesday, October 21.
Where is Newcastle vs Benfica being played?
Tuesday’s Champions League clash between Newcastle and Benfica is taking place at St James’ Park in Newcastle.
Where can I watch Newcastle vs Benfica?
Viewers in the UK and Ireland can watch Newcastle versus Benfica live on TNT Sports 2.
What is the match betting for Newcastle vs Benfica?
Newcastle are 8-15 favourites to beat 4-1 visitors Benfica and the draw is 13-5.
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