The Matchday 6 fixture of the 2025/26 Champions League group stage between Benfica (Portugal) and Napoli (Italy) will take place on December 10 at Estádio da Luz. Benfica – Napoli: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Benfica
José Mourinho's side beat Ajax 2-0 away in the last round. The result ended Benfica's four-match losing run in the Champions League and marked the first time the Lisbon club had scored in four matches in the competition. The win earned Benfica their first three points of the group stage and moved them up the table. Notably, Benfica have lost just two of their last eight European matches against Italian opposition (3 wins, 3 draws).
- The club has failed to win in 7 of their last 9 home Champions League matches (2 draws, 5 losses).
- At least one of the opponents failed to score in 8 of the team's previous 9 fixtures in this competition.
- No more than two goals were scored in 7 of Benfica's last 9 Champions League matches.
Predicted Benfica lineup (4-5-1)
Anatoliy Trubin – Amar Dedić, António Silva, Nicolas Otamendi, Samuel Dahl – Rodrigo Regu, Enzo Barrenechea, Georgiy Sudakov, Richard Ríos, Fredrik Aursnes – Evangelos Pavlidis.
Defender Alexander Bah, midfielder Nuno Félix and forwards Dodi Lukebakio and Bruma will miss the match through injury. The involvement of forward Enrique Araujo is doubtful.
Napoli
In the last round Napoli hosted Qarabag and won 2-0. The victory was only the team's second in seven recent Champions League matches (2 draws, 3 losses). Under Antonio Conte, Napoli recorded their second consecutive clean sheet in the competition and, for the third group-stage match in this edition, they scored at least twice. In the standings Napoli sit on seven points in 20th position. It's worth noting the club have lost only two of their previous 15 European matches against Portuguese teams (9 wins, 4 draws).
- The team has lost their last four away matches in the Champions League.
- At least two goals were scored in the second half in 5 of the club's previous 7 fixtures in this competition.
- Napoli have conceded at least two goals in their last four away Champions League matches.
Predicted Napoli lineup (3-4-3)
Vanja Milinković-Savić – Alessandro Buongiorno, Amir Rrahmani, Sam Beukema – Matías Olivera, Elif Elmas, Scott McTominay, Giovanni Di Lorenzo – David Neres, Rasmus Højlund, Noa Lang.
Goalkeeper Alex Meret, midfielders Stanislav Lobotka, André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Billy Gilmour and Kevin De Bruyne, as well as forward Romelu Lukaku, will miss the match through injury. Defender Miguel Gutiérrez is doubtful for the game.
Referee
Slavko Vinčić (Slovenia)
Matches – 7 (International fixtures, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 15;
Average yellow cards per match – 2.1;
Red cards shown – 1;
Average fouls per match – 25;
Penalties – 43%.
Match prediction: Benfica – Napoli
Although Benfica have struggled for consistency in attack during the group stage, I expect the hosts to show improvement in their build-up play. Historically they have rarely found it difficult to break down opponents at home: in their last 11 Champions League home matches the team failed to score only three times. That said, Benfica have not always been solid at the back — they conceded in 13 of their previous 17 home European fixtures.
Napoli have been inconsistent on the road in European competition but typically favour an attacking approach. In their last 14 Champions League away fixtures the Italians failed to score only three times and found the net at least twice on seven occasions in that period. Conversely, they have shown defensive frailties: in their last seven away European matches the club kept a clean sheet just once.
I expect an exchange of goals in this meeting, so my prediction: Both teams to score – Yes
