Juventus will welcome Benfica to the Allianz Stadium on Wednesday evening in a crucial UEFA Champions League fixture, with both sides desperately searching for a positive result in the league phase.
With Luciano Spalletti’s men currently sitting 17th with nine points from six matches, they face a Portuguese side managed by José Mourinho who have improved significantly after their disastrous start to the competition.
Benfica occupy 28th position with six points but have momentum on their side following consecutive victories, making this matchday seven encounter a fascinating battle between tactical expertise and recent form.
Juventus vs Benfica – Match preview and team news
- Date: Wednesday, 21st January.
- Kick-off: 8pm BST.
- Venue: Allianz Stadium, Torino.
Juventus team news
Juventus head into this fixture with significant injury concerns that will shape their approach. Dusan Vlahovic remains sidelined with a tendon injury sustained in late November and is not expected to return until late March. Daniele Rugani continues his recovery from a calf injury, while Jonas Rouhi and Arkadiusz Milik are also unavailable.
Manager Spalletti does have concerns regarding potential suspensions, with Andrea Cambiaso and Juan Cabal both one booking away from missing the final league phase match against Monaco.
Kenan Yildiz remains a crucial creative force, having provided three assists in the competition so far. There are indications that Spalletti will make three tactical changes to his starting lineup following the disappointing 1-0 defeat at Cagliari, with potentially Francisco Conceição returning to add attacking impetus.
Benfica team news
José Mourinho’s squad faces injury challenges of their own as they prepare for the Turin trip. Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio remains sidelined with a fractured ankle sustained during international duty and is expected to return in March. Additionally, Alexander Bah is unavailable due to a cruciate ligament injury, and Richard Ríos continues his recovery from a shoulder complaint.
However, Mourinho retains most of his key personnel. Vangelis Pavlidis has been in exceptional form domestically, scoring 17 goals in 18 Primeira Liga matches this season—a remarkable tally that includes 42 goals across the entire 2025 calendar year, making him the first Benfica player since the legendary Eusébio in 1965 to reach this milestone.
Leandro Barreiro has scored in Benfica’s last two Champions League matches and will be crucial in midfield.
Form
Juventus
Spalletti’s side ended their impressive seven-match unbeaten run with a shocking 1-0 defeat at struggling Cagliari on Saturday.
In the Champions League specifically, the Bianconeri bounced back impressively after a disappointing start to the league phase. Victories over Bodø/Glimt (3-2) and Pafos (2-0) in their last two continental outings have repositioned them as playoff-round contenders.
Benfica
José Mourinho’s Eagles have demonstrated a more inconsistent recent record. Two recent defeats in domestic cup competitions to Porto and Braga highlighted their struggles outside the league, though they responded positively with a 2-0 victory over Rio Ave in the Primeira Liga.
This mixed bag of results contrasts sharply with their improved Champions League form, where they have climbed the table following consecutive victories over Ajax (2-0) and Napoli (2-0).
Predicted lineups
Juventus: Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Conceicao, McKennie, Yildiz; David.
Benfica: Trubin; Dedic, Otamendi, Araujo, Dahl; Barreiro, Aursnes; Prestianni, Sudakov, Schjelderup; Pavlidis.
How to watch Juventus vs Benfica?
In the UK, Juventus vs Benfica in the UEFA Champions League group phase is broadcast live on TNT Sports 5.
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