Boca Juniors vs Benfica Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025 FIFA Club World Cup | Group Stage

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In what is a ‘fun’ group for the neutral alongside Bayern Munich and Auckland City, Argentine giants Boca Juniors take on Portuguese giants Benfica at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Kick-off date/time:

How to watch on TV & online: UK – DAZN & Channel 5 / US – DAZN

Boca Juniors team news: Costa out after visa denial

Defender Ayrton Costa will play no part for Boca in the Club World Cup after his visa application was denied. The Argentinian giants will also be without new signing Marco Pellegrino for at least the first round of games due to a muscle injury.

Predicted XI (4-3-3): Marchesin; Blondel, Battaglia, Rojo, Blanco; Belmonte, Delgado, Herrera; Zeballos, Cavani, Zenon 

Unavailable: Costa (Injured), Pellegrino (Injured)

Questionable: 

Benfica team news: Carreras should play despite Madrid interest

Full-back Alvaro Carreras has been the subject of intense transfer speculation of late with Real Madrid reportedly courting his signature. But with a deal not agreed, Carreras is likely to play for Benfica. Little surprises are expected when it comes to their starting XI.

Predicted XI (4-3-3): Trubin; Araujo, Otamendi, Silva, Carreras; Florentino, Kokcu, Aursnes; Di Maria, Pavlidis, Akturkoglu

Unavailable: 

Questionable: 

Key stats

• Winners of 35 top flight domestic titles in Argentina, Boca Juniors have appeared in more CONMEBOL Libertadores finals than any other club, their 12 appearances bringing six wins (second only to Independiente, with seven) and six losses, the most recent a 2-1 extra-time defeat by Fluminense in 2023.
• Boca secured their place in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ via the CONMEBOL ranking pathway, a major factor being their tremendous run to the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores final of the 2023 edition.
• In reaching the 2023 CONMEBOL Libertadores final, Boca Juniors, remarkably won all their knockout ties by a penalty shootout. Edging out Nacional of Uruguay in the last 16, fellow Argentinian side Racing Club in the last eight and then Brazilian club Palmeiras in the semi-finals.
• Current Boca Juniors president Juan Román Riquelme, enjoyed a stellar career with the club as a player, with his honours including three Copa Libertadores victories – in two of those successes he was named the tournament’s MVP.
• Boca’s Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani won 136 caps and scored 58 international goals for his country and participated in four FIFA World Cups (2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022) prior to his international retirement in 2022. Cavani scored twice against Portugal in a 2-1 victory for Uruguay in the round of 16 at the 2018 finals.
• Ander Herrera (Boca Juniors) and Ángel Di María (Benfica) were team-mates at PSG from 2019-22.
• Boca’s Ander Herrera played in two wins for Manchester United against Benfica in the 2017/18 UEFA Champions League group stage (1-0 a, 2-0 h).
• Boca’s Rodrigo Battaglia previously played club football in Portugal for Braga, Moreirense, Chaves and Benfica’s Lisbon arch-rivals Sporting CP. He played against Benfica for all those four teams.
• Boca defender Marcos Rojo played in Portugal for Sporting CP from 2012-14 during which time he featured against Benfica five times in all competitions.
• Boca goalkeeper Agustín Marchesín played in Portugal for Porto (2019-22). During this time, he was unbeaten in six competitive matches against Benfica (W4 D2).
• Benfica are the most decorated Portuguese team with a record 38 Primeira Liga titles as well as the most successes in the Taça de Portugal (26) and the Taça da Liga (8).

Boca Juniors vs Benfica prediction

Boca Juniors have an experienced squad, as shown by the likes of Ander Herrera and Edinson Cavani. One of the most famous clubs in the world, they are seeking to establish themselves on top of the world once again, having won the old Intercontinental Cup on three occasions, in 1977, 2000 and 2003.

Benfica ended up missing out on the Portuguese title to Lisbon rivals Sporting CP on the final day of the campaign, having drawn with Sporting on the penultimate match day of the season. They then suffered a 3-1 loss to Sporting at Estadio Nacional do Jamor in the Taca de Portugal final, in a game in which Sporting equalised as late as the 101st minute.

Boca have some intriguing talents in attack but play a more defensive style, whilst Benfica are often unpredictable so the two sides easing their way into the tournament with a draw may well be a good bet.

Boca Juniors vs Benfica tip: Draw