Benfica vs CSKA Moscow Preview

Winning the Primera Liga last season helped Benfica get into the Champions League automatically and subsequently help them get a good draw in the competition.

Drawn together with Manchester United, CSKA Moscow and Basel, they have the chance to finish at least second in the group and they need to start off on a winning note.

Benfica were knocked out of the Champions League by Borussia Dortmund in the round of 16 last season.

However, they remain one of the top European sides and have a genuine chance of making it to the knockout stage again this season.

They lost some key players in the summer yet they have won 4 of their last 5 games in addition to the Portuguese Super Cup so they are in good shape mentally ahead of this game.

CSKA Moscow have been involved very well in competitive action this season.

They have played 13 compeive games already, recording 10 victories and just 2 losses so far.

These games include 4 Champions League qualifying matches against AEK Athens and Young Boys.

Benfica are a tougher opponent than CSKA have faced this season and they will be made to labour more for any single point from this game.

While CSKA have scored in 7 of their last 10 Champions League games, Benfica have scored in each of their last 9.

Results of each team’s last 5 matches across all leagues and competitions

Benfica 

LAST FIVE GAMES						DATE	COMPETITION
D	Rio Ave		1-1		Benfica	Aug 26, 2017	Portuguese Liga
W	Benfica		5-0		Belenenses	Aug 19, 2017	Portuguese Liga
W	GD Chaves		0-1		Benfica	Aug 14, 2017	Portuguese Liga
W	Benfica		3-1		Braga	Aug 9, 2017	Portuguese Liga
L	RB Leipzig		2-0		Benfica	Jul 30, 2017	Emirates Cup

CSKA Moscow

LAST FIVE GAMES						DATE	COMPETITION
L	CSKA Moscow		0-1		Terek Grozny	Aug 27, 2017	Russian Premier League
W	CSKA Moscow		2-0		Young Boys	Aug 23, 2017	UEFA Champions League
D	Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast		0-0		CSKA Moscow	Aug 19, 2017	Russian Premier League
W	Young Boys		0-1		CSKA Moscow	Aug 15, 2017	UEFA Champions League
W	CSKA Moscow		2-1		Spartak Moscow	Aug 12, 2017	Russian Premier League

H2H

					DATE	COMPETITION
Benfica		1-1		CSKA Moscow	Feb 24, 2005	UEFA Cup
CSKA Moscow		2-0		Benfica	Feb 17, 2005	UEFA Cup