Newcastle United host Benfica on 21 October 2025 at 22:00 at their home stadium, St James’ Park in the city of Newcastle. For both teams this meeting can prove decisive for reaching the UEFA Champions League play‑offs, the teams are close in strength. Therefore, a fiery encounter is expected. In their last 10 matches the hosts have 4 wins, 3 losses and 3 draws. The visitors show a largely similar picture but with one more win. Both teams have scored 15 goals in their last 10 matches. Taking the overall picture into account, the most likely prediction looks like a draw with a slight edge for Newcastle given the home‑field factor.
Team Form
Team Form
Newcastle United
Newcastle United
Eddie Howe’s team ranks 11th among other teams both in the domestic league and within the 2025/2026 Champions League. The team recently showed an ability to pull themselves together in the meeting with Belgian opponents Union Saint
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Gilloise, finishing the match with a stunning 4–0 scoreline. However, Benfica are undoubtedly a different class of opponent. Plus, Newcastle currently have personnel difficulties: Tino Livramento will be sidelined for about eight weeks due to a knee ligament injury. Lewis Hall also has fitness issues. Because of all this the team’s flank defense is weakened, so the head coach faces a difficult task. At the same time this club should clearly not be underestimated, especially on their own pitch. Reliable control of the center of the park thanks to Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães remains in place.
Benfica
Benfica
The Portuguese side are in a better situation in the national championship, where they sit 3rd. However, the Portuguese league is objectively weaker in terms of the overall number of worthy opponents compared with the English one. Plus, Benfica have lately performed worse in European competition than in Portugal itself. And the start of the current UEFA Champions League season has been no exception. The team has to seriously fight for a place in the play
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offs and the chances of defeat are quite high.
Defeats to Chelsea and Qarabag demotivated Benfica, left them without points and under a serious threat of elimination. The attack does not look stable and away from home the defense begins to limp noticeably. After the loss to Qarabag, the Portuguese even changed their head coach from Bruno Lage to José Mourinho. The question is whether he will have time to fix the team’s problem areas. A coaching change during the season sometimes strongly unsettles the players, it is frankly a risky step.
Probable Lineups
Probable Lineups
Newcastle United (4-2-3-1)
- Goalkeeper: Nick Pope
- Defense: Sven Botman, Malick Thiaw
- Midfield: Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali, Joe Willock
- Attack: Nick Woltemade, Anthony Gordon
Benfica (4-1-3-2)
- Goalkeeper: Anatoliy Trubin
- Defense: Amar Dedić, António Silva, Samuel Dahl
- Midfield: Enzo Barrenechea, Fredrik Aursnes, Richard Ríos
- Attack: Gianluca Prestianni, Andreas Schjelderup
Who Will Not Play
Who Will Not Play
It is possible to speak for sure about the starting lineup only on matchday itself or at least a day before the match, but with a very high degree of probability, on Newcastle’s side, due to injuries, Tino Livramento, Lewis Hall, Yoane Wissa, and Fabian Schär will be forced to miss this game. Jacob Ramsey’s participation is highly in doubt. Benfica’s injury situation is better, but absences are expected there as well. This concerns Alexander Bah, Bruma and Manu Silva. Mourinho has more room to maneuver with the starting lineup but less time to adapt to the team.
Main Prediction for Newcastle United – Benfica
Main Prediction for Newcastle United – Benfica
Both teams are roughly equal in strength and both have issues with injured players. Benfica are used to playing aggressively, but Newcastle do not concede in this respect. In both cases the match is fundamentally important, so with a high degree of probability it may end in a draw. But Newcastle have a slight edge: they benefit from home advantage and continuity with the coach, whereas Benfica’s head coach has literally just changed. You can bet on a total over 2.5 or on both teams to score (both teams attack quite aggressively, so you can expect high scoring).
Prediction 1 (odds 1.78) - Both teams to score
Prediction 1 (odds 1.78) -
An excellent option for cautious players. Newcastle will try to show class at home, Benfica will look to counterattack, taking advantage of the weakened flanks. Therefore, you can expect a large number of goals.
Prediction 2 (odds 1.78) - Total over 2.5
Prediction 2 (odds 1.78) -
A good option also for some insurance. Newcastle's home attacks and Benfica's counter-offence are expected to bring 3+ goals in this open.
All odds are according to the date of this prediction. Check out much more information in the sports section of Batery Bets.
