Benfica vs Qarabag FK: Predictions Preview, Lineups, H2h for September 17, 2025

On September 16, 2025, Benfica will face Qarabag in the first round of the UEFA Champions League group stage. The match is set to kick off at 21:00 Central European Time. Let’s explore the betting options for the winner of this match.

Benfica

Benfica enters this match in strong form. They are coming off a disappointing league match where they conceded a late goal due to a defensive error. However, they have had a solid start to the season, remaining unbeaten in nine matches across all competitions. Their defense has been impressive, allowing only two goals during this period.

Benfica had a successful qualification campaign, overcoming teams like Nice and Fenerbahce. Last season, they also performed well, finishing 16th in their group and reaching the round of 16 before being eliminated by Barcelona.

Their home performance is noteworthy—Benfica has not lost at their stadium this season, maintaining an unbeaten streak of four home matches. This will be the first official match between Benfica and Qarabag.

Qarabag

Qarabag’s qualification for the Champions League group stage is a significant achievement. They are not new to this level, having made their debut in 2017. This season, they successfully navigated a tough qualification process, defeating teams like Shelbourne from Ireland and Shkëndija from North Macedonia, with only one loss in six matches.

In their domestic league, Qarabag’s start has been less successful, with just one win, one draw, and one defeat over three matches. All their games have been low-scoring, with each match finishing under 2.5 total goals.

Probable lineups

• Benfica: Trubin, Araujo, Silva, Otamendi, Dahl, Aursnes, Barrenechea, Rios, Schjelderup, Pavlidis, Ivanovic.
• Qarabag: Kochalski, Jafarkuliev, Medina, Mustafazade, Mateus Silva, Jankovic, Pedro Bicalho, Zoubir, Kady, Leandro Andrade, Akhundzade.

Interesting facts and head-to-head

• Benfica have won 8 of their last 10 matches.
• Benfica have won 4 of their last 5 home games.
• Qarabag have won 5 of their last 6 away matches.
• Qarabag have failed to win 3 of their last 4 matches.
• This will be the first ever meeting between the two teams.

Benfica vs Qarabag match prediction

Benfica comes into this match in excellent form, remaining unbeaten recently and performing well at home. Qarabag, on the other hand, lacks recent experience at this level and has had a shaky start in their domestic league. Given their lack of stability, they are seen as the underdog. Following a frustrating draw in their league, Benfica will be eager to start their Champions League campaign on a strong note. It is predicted that Benfica will win with a -1.5 handicap at odds of 1.57.