UEFA Champions League: Benfica v Otelul Galati Odds and Betting Preview

LISBON, PORTUGAL – Benfica host Otelul Galati on Wednesday evening and another win against their pointless visitors will see them progress as Group C leaders. The betting suggests this will be a very one-sided affair allowing Benfica to pick up the points they require to make sure a last 16 tie with the European powerhouses of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Bayern and Inter should remain off the cards.

Benfica are the very strong 1/7 favourites with Paddy Power for this final group game whilst Otelul Galati are a massive 28/1 at Betfred to cause an upset in Portugal. The draw is a standout 8/1 at bet365 and would mean the visitors pick up their first points in this season’s campaign.

Benfica haven’t topped their group in the Champions League since 1995 but the two-time European champions should secure this feat with victory tonight. They salvaged a 2-2 draw away at Old Trafford on the last matchday and are now in pole position, level on point but with a better head-to-head record than the Premier League champions, Manchester United. Benfica will go in search of their first home win and have been impressive with only one defeat in their last 18 home matches in European competition. They enjoyed a 22-match unbeaten run in all competitions which was recently ended by a 2-1 defeat at the hands of CS Maritimo in the Portugese Cup.

Otelul Galati have found life tough in their first venture in the group stages of European football’s elite competition and have failed to register a single point from their five games to date. They will be desperate to get off the mark but face an uphill task against a side in great form. Otelul have committed the most fouls, 90 in total, in the group stages as they have failed to handle their superior opponents.

In the Over/Under betting, over 2.5 goals is a general 1/2 chance with most firms whilst under this margin is a standout 13/8 at William Hill. Benfica have conceded exactly one goal in each of their last six European games and failed to keep a clean sheet in their last eight, a run they will hope to end tonight. For punters who predict Benfica’s attacking talent will easily break through the weak Otelul defence can back over 3.5 goals at 5/4 with Stan James.

Benfica/Benfica is 1/2 at Skybet in the Half-time/Full-time betting whilst Draw/Benfica is 9/2 with Betfred in this popular market which offers more value than the straight match result betting. A draw at the end of both periods is 12/1 with Blue Square and Otelul/Benfica is 40/1.

In the Correct Score market a 2-0 victory for the hosts is 5/1 at William Hill and 3-0 has been priced up at 6/1 with betinternet. A 3-1 Benfica victory is 12/1 at Blue Square whilst a 0-0 bore draw is 20/1. Otelul are 55/1 at Paddy Power to snatch a 1-0 shock away win, a result that would be the biggest in the club’s history.

Oscar Cardozo has been installed as the 10/3 market leader in the First Goalscorer betting with bet365. The Benfica forward has scored two goals in four starts in the current European campaign. His is closely followed by Rodrigo who is a general 4/1 shot and Bruno Cesar is 6/1 at Skybet and the Brazilian has been one of Benfica’s most influential players this season. The most prominent player for Otelul in this market is Marius Pena a 20/1 chance with bet365 to score the game’s opening goal.

This match kicks off at 19.45 GMT and is broadcast via the red button on Sky Sports.

Benfica v Otelul Galati – Match Result Odds
Benfica v Otelul Galati – Over/Under Odds
Benfica v Otelul Galati – Half-time/Full-time Betting
Benfica v Otelul Galati – Correct Score Odds
Benfica v Otelul Galati – First Goalscorer Odds