FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Benfica vs Auckland City Match Preview, Betting Odds, and Predictions
Benfica take on Auckland City in a crucial Group C encounter at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in Orlando on Friday. The Portuguese giants will be looking to pick up their first win of the tournament after a 2-2 draw against Boca Juniors. Meanwhile, Auckland City are reeling from a record-breaking 10-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in their opener.
For Benfica, this clash will present an opportunity to boost their goal difference ahead of a potential group decider against the German champions. While Benfica will aim to stay in the race for the top two, Auckland will simply be trying to restore pride. Check out the match preview and betting odds for Benfica vs Auckland City FIFA Club World Cup clash below.
Benfica were forced to dig deep in their first match as they came from behind twice to salvage a 2-2 draw against Boca Juniors. Despite a red card to striker Andrea Belotti, the Eagles showed resilience and quality in midfield, controlling the tempo of the game late on. However, with a physically demanding game against Boca, manager Bruno Lage may opt for some rotation, especially with Bayern up next in Group C. A win here is non-negotiable, and one can expect Benfica to come out all guns blazing.
Auckland were dismantled by Bayern Munich in a 10-0 thrashing, the heaviest defeat in Club World Cup history. The New Zealand side were down 4-0 within 20 minutes and never recovered. Despite their achievements in Oceania, where they’ve won 13 OFC Champions League titles, the gap in class was brutally exposed on the global stage. Manager Ivan Vicelich’s goal now will be damage limitation and restoring some belief with a good performance.
Total Corners Over 11.5 @ -120 (FanDuel)
A bet on over 11.5 total corners holds strong value for this match. In their 10-0 loss to Bayern Munich, Auckland City still managed two corners, while Bayern racked up double digits. Similarly, Benfica’s draw with Boca Juniors featured 11 corners, further pointing to a pattern of high corner counts in their games. Given Auckland’s defensive setup and Benfica’s attacking intensity, we could again see sustained pressure and multiple opportunities for corners. Notably, this over bet has landed in 5 of Auckland’s last 7 fixtures, making it a good pick.
After a record-breaking debut season in Lisbon, Vangelis Pavlidis heads into the Club World Cup as Benfica’s undisputed attacking talisman. The Greek striker netted 28 goals in all competitions, topping the club’s scoring charts. But he had a quiet first game against Boca Juniors and he will be eager to open his account here. Deadly inside the box and intelligent in his movement, Pavlidis’s link-up play and eye for goal make him a complete forward.
Veteran winger Angel Di Maria is set for an emotional farewell after the tournament, with a return to Rosario Central awaiting him post-Club World Cup. But before he heads home, the 36-year-old will be determined to leave his mark on the global stage. Still capable of game-changing moments, Di Maria’s experience and flair will be vital for Benfica here.
With goal difference likely to play a decisive role in Group C, Benfica will be fully focused on maximizing their attacking output. After salvaging a draw against Boca Juniors, the Portuguese giants know they must rack up goals against the tournament’s weakest team.
Final Prediction: Benfica 6-0 Auckland City
While Auckland City may have regrouped mentally after their 10-0 thrashing by Bayern Munich, the gap in class remains stark. Expect Benfica to dominate possession and break down the Kiwi side on multiple occassions. This has all the makings of another rout.
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