Benfica, riding a four-match winning streak, hosts Atletico Madrid at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on Wednesday, seeking to extend their momentum in the Champions League. The Portuguese side has flourished since appointing a new manager last month, while Diego Simeone’s long tenure continues to guide Los Colchoneros.

Roger Schmidt’s tenure at Benfica came to an abrupt end following a disappointing 1-1 draw at Moreirense on August 30. However, the Portuguese giants have since experienced a remarkable resurgence under new head coach Bruno Lage. Lage, formerly of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Botafogo, has masterminded a four-game winning streak across the Primeira Liga and Champions League. This impressive run culminated in Saturday’s 5-0 demolition of Gil Vicente, with Nicolas Otamendi, a World Cup and Copa America winner, among the goalscorers.Lage’s impact has been profound, collecting 12 points from 12 since taking charge. The former German manager’s departure paved the way for Lage to revitalize Benfica’s talented squad, transforming them into a formidable force. The Eagles claimed a 2-1 win over Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League, thanks to Kerem Akturkoglou and Orkun Kokcu’s first-half goals. Akturkoglou has been outstanding, with eight goal involvements in his last five matches for Benfica and Turkey.

Atletico Madrid maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 1-1 draw against Real Madrid. Eder Militao opened the scoring, but Angel Correa’s 95th-minute equalizer secured a point for Los Colchoneros. Despite their impressive eight-game unbeaten run in La Liga, Atletico Madrid face an uphill battle in the title race, trailing leaders Barcelona by five points. With only four wins from eight matches, Diego Simeone’s side must improve their winning record to keep pace. However, Atletico Madrid’s defensive solidity provides a strong foundation. They have conceded just three goals in their last eight matches across all competitions, boasting one of the most resilient backlines in the Champions League. Building on their 2-1 victory over RB Leipzig in gameweek one, courtesy of Antoine Griezmann and Jose Gimenez’s goals, Atletico Madrid seeks consecutive Champions League wins. They are among 15 teams aiming to achieve this feat in gameweek two.Meanwhile, Benfica will be without midfielder Renato Sanches for Wednesday’s clash, as the 27-year-old continues to recover from a muscle injury sustained in late August.Benfica’s Tiago Gouveia (shoulder) and Atletico’s Cesar Azpilicueta (thigh) are out. Pablo Barrios (muscle) is doubtful. Angel Correa’s strong substitute performance against Real Madrid makes a case for a starting spot.

Benfica, unbeaten under new coach Bruno Lage, will pose a significant challenge to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. Atletico, seeking to stretch their unbeaten streak to 10 games, are likely to secure a point in Lisbon, sharing the spoils with the Portuguese hosts. Don’t miss this enthralling encounter.

Best Tip: Over 1.5

Correct score: 1-1