Napoli’s midfield injuries could force Conte to field the same XI for Lisbon after a 2-1 win over Juventus. Rasmus Hojlund is in hot form and will lead the line with Romelu Lukaku absent. Betting angle: consider Napoli to win or double chance (Napoli/DN) and Hojlund as an anytime scorer—his recent form makes an anytime bet attractive given Napoli’s likely unchanged attack.
Benfica vs Napoli: Champions League Preview
Overview
Antonio Conte faces a midfield selection headache ahead of Napoli’s Champions League trip to Benfica after his side ground out a 2-1 Serie A win over Juventus. With several midfielders sidelined, Conte may be forced to stick with the same starting XI deployed at the weekend.
Team news and selection
Midfield problems persist for Napoli, with Stanislav Lobotka, Frank Anguissa and Billy Gilmour missing. Eljif Elmas was moved into central midfield against Juventus and is expected to start again alongside Scott McTominay. Romelu Lukaku remains unavailable with a thigh issue, leaving Rasmus Hojlund as Napoli’s primary centre-forward option. Lorenzo Lucca is likely to be among the substitutes.
Tactical setup
Napoli are expected to line up in a 3-4-3 that relies on wing-backs to provide width while a compact midfield protects the back three. Rasmus Hojlund’s recent goal involvements make him a focal point of Conte’s attack. Benfica will likely set up in a 4-2-3-1, with Pavlidis leading the line and Sudakov, Barreiro and Aursnes providing support through midfield and the wide areas.
Probable line-ups
Napoli (3-4-3): Milinkovic-Savic; Beukema, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Di Lorenzo, Elmas, McTominay, Olivera; Neres, Hojlund, Lang. Benfica (4-2-3-1): Trubin; Dedic, Silva, Otamendi, Dahl; Barrenechea, Rios; Aursnes, Barreiro, Sudakov; Pavlidis.
Match details
Kick-off is due at 20:00 GMT (21:00 CET).
Betting outlook
Napoli look likely to name an unchanged XI and will rely on Hojlund while Lukaku recovers, so betting markets should reflect Napoli’s attacking continuity. Punters could consider Napoli to win or a double chance (Napoli/draw) and an anytime scorer bet on Hojlund given his recent form. Markets on total goals may tighten if both teams are expected to set up conservatively; consider backing under 3.5 goals if you expect a controlled, tactical contest.
Prediction Benfica vs Napoli 2025/2026 season – Betting Tips for the Champions League on 10/12/2025
Midfield injuries have not cleared up for Antonio Conte, who may have to name the...
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