Juventus vs Benfica predictions: Draw can do the job for rivals
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- Juventus have drawn four of their last seven games
- Benfica have lost three Champions League matches this term
- Recommended bet: Draw
Both Juventus and Benfica are on course to finish in the Champions League knockout round play-offs, meaning it could be something of a dead rubber when they clash at the Allianz Stadium in Turin.
Only two points separate these teams in the standings with both clubs on course to secure a spot in the 9th-24th positions.
Juve have been renowned as draw specialists this term and their latest Champions League battle also finished level as they battled to a 0-0 draw with Club Brugge.
As for Benfica, they will be licking their wounds after relinquishing a 4-2 lead after 78 minutes to lose 5-4 to Barcelona on matchday seven and they will be after a response in Italy.
Team news
Nico Gonzalez is expected to lead the Juve line with Dusan Vlahovic out of favour with Thiago Motta, while Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceicao are available again for the Old Lady.
Arkadiusz Milik, Juan Cabal and Bremer are still sidelined for the hosts.
Vangelis Pavlidis will be looking to build on his hat-trick in defeat to Barcelona last time out, but Alvaro Carreras and Arthur Cabral are suspended and Tiago Gouveia and Renato Sanches are injured.
The stats
Juve have earned the reputation of being draw specialists in Serie A this season with 13 of their 22 league assignments finishing all square.
They suffered their first league defeat of the season against Napoli at the weekend.
Benfica have won three and lost three, drawing the other in the Champions League so far this season, although they were 4-2 up before capitulating late on against Barca last week,
The home side have seen an average of just two goals per game in their Champions League matches this term.
Prediction
This may not be a classic encounter and the draw looks like the wise pick.
Juve and stalemates have gone hand in hand this season and they have drawn four of their last seven games in all competitions, sharing the spoils with Fiorentina, Torino, Atalanta and Club Brugge.
The bottom line is they are not the most prolific in attack, but they can keep things tight at the back, as shown by the fact that they have conceded only 19 goals in 22 Serie A matches.
A low-scoring game often increases the chances of a draw and, while Benfica played their part in a thrilling 5-4 defeat to Barca last time out, this could be a more reserved contest.
A draw would likely satisfy both sides as they prepare for the knockout round play-offs and it would be no surprise if the desire to avoid defeat overpowers the need to attack as the game wears on.
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