Benfica vs Celta Vigo

Benfica will be looking to maintain their 100% win ratio in pre-season when they face Celta Vigo at the Estadio Algarve.

Fresh off a 4-1 humbling of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, Benfica continue their flawless pre-season with their first encounter against Celta in the 21st century. After steamrolling to Primeira Liga supremacy for the first time since 2018/19 last term, Roger Schmidt’s men have excelled in their early summer assignments, toppling Southampton and Basel by a two-goal margin before the abovementioned thumping of the Saudi Pro League titans. Schmidt has massively relied on Benfica’s mercurial attack to drive his team forward, with the ‘Eagles’ notching up 2+ goals in their last six outings at an average of 3.16 per game. Benfica’s free-flowing frontline might have to deliver again, considering the Portuguese giants only kept two clean sheets during that six-match stretch.

On the other hand, Celta Vigo stunned defending La Liga champions Barcelona 2-1 on the final 2022/23 league weekend to steer three points clear of the drop zone and avoid relegation by the skin of their teeth. However, an agonizing La Liga campaign took its toll as ‘Los Celestes’ dismissed underperforming manager Carlos Carvalhal at the end of last season, appointing former Liverpool and Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez as the new chief of staff. Benitez’s passed his maiden challenge with flying colors as Celta dismantled Al-Nassr 5-0 to get their warm-up campaign off to a dream start. The Spaniards could be on the verge of turning their fortunes around after going from six successive games without winning (D1, L5) to back-to-back victories.