Benfica vs Anderlecht 11/07/19

11 July 2019

Benfica and Anderlecht will face-off at the Estádio da Luz for a friendly clash that will see the Portuguese giants looking to stretch their unbeaten run against the Belgian side to four games (W2, D1).

It will be Benfica’s first match since May and a commanding 4-1 win over Santa Clara on the final Primeira Liga matchday. Authors on a stunning season, the Eagles have clinched the Primeira Liga title with a record of 28 wins, three draws, and three losses, and a remarkable +72 goal difference (S103, C31). The reigning Portuguese champions are on a five-game winning run, during which they’ve scored 20 goals, keeping a clean sheet only once though. Interestingly, just five of those goals have come inside the opening 30 minutes, with Bruno Lage’s men failing to find the net in the first half on two occasions in the process.

Meanwhile, Vincent Kompany continues to prepare his team since taking charge of Anderlecht after the end of last season. The Belgian outfit registered two wins in three friendlies this summer (W2, L1), with two of those games featuring over 2.5 goals. Unlike Benfica, the Purple & White have endured a torrid season in their national championship, having finished sixth in the Jupiler Pro League. Anderlecht’s disappointing performances over the past few months have seen them pull off just three wins in 13 games across that period (W3, D3, L7), conceding two or more goals in six of those seven defeats.