Club World Cup 2025: Benfica-Auckland-City, likely lineups
After the battle staged against Boca Juniors on the Italian night between Monday and Tuesday (2-2 the final result), Benfica returns to the field against the designated cinderella of Group C of the Club World Cup, Auckland City, which came back from the devastating 0-10 against Bayern Munich on the first day of the tournament.
Bruno Lage, coach of the Lisbon Eagles, will not be able to count on Andrea Belotti, who was sent off directly midway through the second half (after taking over from Dahl after halftime) for a foul against Ayrton Costa. In attack, however, there is no shortage of choice: Pavlidis will, barring surprises, be confirmed as the first offensive terminal, while behind him will act Di Maria, Aursnes and Akturkoglu.
On the other side there’s a team composed of semiprofessionals, simply happy to be present at the rainbow event: the goal is to avoid another goleada, and for this reason coach Paul Posa could go for an ultra- defensive line-up, a 5-4-1 that will see only Myer Bevan in attack. Conor Tracey is confirmed in goal, despite the ten goals conceded by Bayern.
Probable lineups
BENFICA (4-2-3-1): Trubin; Gouveia, Silva, Otamendi, Carreras; Sanches, Barreiro; Di Maria, Aursnes, Akturkoglu; Pavlidis. All. Lage.
AUCKLAND CITY (5-4-1): Tracey; Murati, Boxall, Mitchell, Den Heijer, Lobo; Yoo, Ilich, Garriga, Manickum; Bevan. All. Posa.
