Benfica vs Auckland City Prediction 20.06.2025
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Benfica vs Auckland City Prediction
Benfica vs Auckland City Prediction and Betting Tips for the second round of Group C action in the FIFA Club World Cup, set for Friday, June 21. The clash takes place at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, with both teams searching for their first win of the tournament. In this article, you’ll discover Club World Cup Predictions and expert analysis from XpertStats tipsters.
- Benfica fought back for a 2-2 draw against Boca Juniors in their Group C opener
- Auckland City suffered a historic 10-0 defeat to Bayern Munich last time out
- Benfica scored 84 league goals last season, showcasing their attacking firepower
- Auckland have lost eight straight Club World Cup matches since 2014
Benfica come into Friday’s clash needing a victory after a dramatic 2-2 draw against Boca Juniors on Monday. The Eagles showed resilience, coming back from a two-goal deficit thanks to Ángel Di María’s penalty and a late equalizer by Nicolás Otamendi. Despite Andrea Belotti’s red card, Bruno Lage’s side showed flashes of the attacking quality that helped them score 84 goals in last season’s Primeira Liga campaign. With top spot in Group C still up for grabs, expect a more ruthless Benfica performance this time out.
Bruno Lage may consider rotating his squad slightly, especially with Bayern Munich looming next week. However, star striker Vangelis Pavlidis is expected to lead the line. The Greek forward contributed 26 goal involvements last season and is likely to trouble a shaky Auckland backline. Otamendi’s leadership and Di María’s creativity will be key to unlocking a defense that collapsed under pressure just days ago.
Auckland City were left reeling after a record-breaking 10-0 thrashing by Bayern Munich, and the task doesn’t get any easier. Despite being Oceania’s most successful club, the New Zealanders were completely overrun by the German champions, conceding four goals in the opening 20 minutes. Coach Ivan Vicelich faces the difficult challenge of restoring morale and preparing for another daunting fixture against elite European opposition.
The Navy Blues are now winless in their last eight Club World Cup appearances and have failed to make it past the first round in their previous five entries. While they boast regional dominance with 13 OFC Champions League titles, Auckland’s defensive frailties have been brutally exposed on the global stage. With a likely low block and five-man defense, they’ll aim to limit the damage, but Benfica’s quality could once again expose their limitations. Expect goals—and possibly early ones—in this mismatch.
Benfica’s attacking record speaks for itself. With 84 goals in the Portuguese league last season and two against Boca despite playing with 10 men, they are clearly capable of rapid-fire scoring. More importantly, Auckland’s defensive record is among the weakest in the tournament. Their 10-0 loss to Bayern saw four goals conceded in the first 20 minutes. That’s not just about mismatched talent—it’s a mental and tactical collapse. Auckland’s defense looked overwhelmed and disorganized under early pressure, and Benfica will surely adopt a high-tempo approach from kickoff to secure early dominance. Add to this Benfica's recent scoring trend—14 of their last 16 matches have featured over 2.5 total goals—and it’s easy to imagine a high-scoring first half, especially against opposition this vulnerable. The gulf in quality, tempo, and physical fitness makes the Over 2.5 Goals in the 1st Half tip a high-value play in what could be another one-sided affair.
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