Benfica v Newcastle: Tough to see past dominant Eagles success

Benfica have appeared determined to make amends for their early Champions League exit this season, turning in a series of impressive displays to win all four of their Europa League bouts.

With Newcastle’s visit next, victory number five appears to be in the offing, and the Eagles can be backed at 1/2 to achieve it.

A tilt at this competition is the Magpies’ only hope of silverware, as they aim to avoid being dragged into a relegation dogfight in the latter stages of the Premier League season.

But back out of form of late and having won just two of their past six matches in all competitions, they look best avoided at 6/1.

And even a draw would appear beyond the Toon at 3/1, such is the nature of their hosts’ blistering recent form.

That said, the Reds, who have won their past six games in succession across all competitions and haven’t lost within 90 minutes in an astonishing 33 matches, certainly appear worthy of consideration in handicap markets.

At 13/10, the Portuguese outfit look tremendous value to overcome a theoretical one-goal disadvantage, and such a bet would have brought returns in three of their past four Stadium of Light matches.

Meanwhile, of further interest to punters should be the quick-fire fashion in which Glorioso have started their games most recently.

In seven of their past eight outings, Benfica have turned a half-time lead into a full-time victory, and are big at 1/1 to do so again here.

They did manage to win both halves in five of those matches too, including their last four, so repetition of that outcome may also prove overpriced at 14/5.

In terms of potential first scorers, Oscar Cardozo appears an obvious pick for the hosts on the back of his five goals in his past seven appearances, including a brace in his last European outing.

The powerful Paraguayan striker is 7/2 favourite to break the deadlock.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.