Red Star orchestrated an impressive comeback in their previous tie, securing a 2-0 victory in the second leg to advance to this round after facing a 2-1 deficit against Bode/Glimt in the first leg. The Serbian side will face a tough challenge in their upcoming match as they take on a formidable Benfica team that showcased their strength by scoring four goals in their recent league game under the leadership of new manager Bruno Lange. Veteran Angel Di Maria found the back of the net in that match and is expected to play a key role in this encounter, given his significant contributions to Benfica’s Europa League campaign last season, where he tallied four goals and two assists.

The return of 2016 Golden Boy winner Renato Sanches on loan and the acquisition of Kerem Akturkoglu from Galatasaray, who played a crucial role in Benfica’s Champions League journey the previous season, further bolster Benfica’s attacking options. With such talent at their disposal, Benfica are likely to score a couple of goals in this match. However, Red Star boasts an impressive home record, having not failed to score in a competitive home game since October 2023. They even managed to find the back of the net twice against Manchester City, indicating their offensive capabilities. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect Red Star to also score in this match.

A 2-1 victory for Benfica seems like a probable outcome for this fixture, considering their attacking prowess and Red Star’s tendency to find the net at home. The stage is set for an intriguing battle between these two sides, with both teams eager to make their mark in this competition.