Plzen vs Benfica Prediction: Key Stats and Betting Tips

Plzen welcome Benfica to Doosan Arena in Plzen on 26 November 2026 in a UEFA Europa League League Stage - 5 clash that could prove pivotal for both sides’ campaigns. While the Czech hosts sit low in the overall league ranking, this home date offers a chance to make a statement against one of the competition’s early heavyweights.

Benfica arrive as one of the form teams of the Europa League, ranked 4th in the overall League Round table and boasting a prolific attack across their opening fixtures. Plzen, down in 36th, have yet to register a point in the official standings but have shown flashes of promise in their early tournament statistics, particularly in front of goal at home.

With Benfica targeting a high seeding from the League Round and Plzen desperate to turn encouraging underlying numbers into results, this match has clear stakes: the visitors are expected to control proceedings, but the hosts have already demonstrated they can score and make life uncomfortable at Doosan Arena.

Plzen vs Benfica Key Stats

• Plzen are ranked 36th in the Europa League League Round standings with 0 points and 0 goals scored and conceded officially recorded so far.
• Benfica sit 4th in the League Round table, also on 0 official goals for and against but with a strong recent form line of “LWWDWW” in Europa League play.
• In Europa League tournament statistics, Plzen have scored 5 goals and conceded 4 across 2 matches (average 2.5 scored and 2.0 conceded per game), while Benfica have hit 19 goals and allowed just 6 in 6 matches (3.2 scored and 1.0 conceded on average).

Plzen vs Benfica — Tale of the Tape

• Position: 36 vs 4
• Points: 0 vs 0
• Goals For: 0 vs 0
• Goals Against: 0 vs 0
• Clean Sheets: Plzen 0, Benfica 1 (tournament statistics)

The official Europa League League Round standings still list both teams with 0 matches played and no goals scored or conceded, so the raw table does not yet reflect their true performance levels. Even so, the ranking positions are revealing: Benfica’s 4th place underscores their status as one of the early pace-setters, while Plzen’s 36th spot highlights the scale of the task facing the Czech side.

When you factor in tournament statistics, the contrast becomes sharper. Benfica’s 19 goals in 6 Europa League fixtures underline a free-scoring side that regularly puts opponents under sustained pressure, while conceding just 6 shows a reasonably solid defensive platform. Plzen have produced an eye-catching 5-1 home win but also suffered a heavy 3-0 away defeat, leaving them with a negative goal trend and no clean sheets. On paper, Benfica carry the more balanced and consistent profile heading into this League Stage - 5 encounter.

Plzen vs Benfica Key Matchups

Plzen attack unit vs V. Pavlidis

Plzen’s most striking Europa League performance so far has been their 5-1 home victory, part of a tournament record of 5 goals scored in 2 matches. They average 5.0 goals for at home in this competition, suggesting that when they do click at Doosan Arena, they can be ruthless in front of goal. Their forward options such as M. Vydra, P. Adu and B. Faal will need to replicate that clinical edge to trouble a high-calibre opponent.

Standing in their way is Benfica’s talismanic forward V. Pavlidis. The Greek striker is both the competition’s leading scorer and top assist provider for Benfica, with 5 goals and 1 assist in just 3 Europa League appearances. He has also collected 1 yellow card, underlining his combative presence. If Pavlidis continues at this rate, Plzen’s back line – including experienced defenders like D. Vavro and Merchas Doski – will be under constant threat, and any attacking success for the hosts must be balanced by tight marking on Benfica’s main goal threat.

Plzen midfield balance vs Rafa

In midfield, Plzen rely on players such as P. Hrošovský and L. Červ to provide structure and link play. Their Europa League statistics show 5 goals scored in total but also 4 conceded, indicating that their central unit has yet to find the right equilibrium between pushing forward and protecting the defence.

Benfica’s Rafa offers a contrasting picture of efficiency and end product from midfield and forward lines. Across 4 Europa League appearances, he has produced 2 goals and 1 assist without picking up a yellow or red card. His ability to drift between the lines and combine with Pavlidis makes him a key creative outlet. If Plzen’s midfield cannot track his movement and disrupt his rhythm, Rafa could dictate the tempo and carve open a defence that has already conceded 4 goals in 2 tournament outings.

Head-to-Head: Last Meetings

There are no recent competitive meetings on record between Plzen and Benfica in this Europa League dataset, so this clash at Doosan Arena effectively opens a new chapter in their head-to-head history.

Plzen vs Benfica Prediction

All the key indicators point towards Benfica taking control of this match. Their recent Europa League form is impressive: 4 wins, 1 draw and just 1 defeat in 6 fixtures, with 19 goals scored and only 6 conceded. Their last-five form index sits at 87 out of 100, with a perfect 100 in attack and 76 in defence, reflecting both firepower and resilience.

Plzen, by contrast, have been far more volatile. They have one emphatic home win (5-1) but also a 3-0 away loss, and their last-five form index stands at 50, with a modest 29 in attack and a stronger 76 in defence. Crucially, the prediction model assigns just a 10% chance of a Plzen win, with a 45% probability for a draw and 45% for a Benfica victory. The advice leans towards a double chance of draw or Benfica combined with over 1.5 goals, which fits the profile of a match where the visitors dominate but the hosts still have a puncher’s chance of scoring at home.

Predicted Score: Plzen 1-2 Benfica

Plzen Recent Form

Plzen’s recent Europa League form can best be described as mixed. Their standings form string is short, but tournament statistics show one strong home performance and one poor away outing. Across 2 matches they have scored 5 goals and conceded 4, with an average of 2.5 goals for and 2.0 against per game. They have yet to keep a clean sheet and have failed to score once, underlining their inconsistency.

Benfica Recent Form

Benfica’s recent form in the Europa League is clearly positive. Their form line of “LWWDWW” across 6 fixtures reflects only one defeat, offset by 4 victories and 1 draw. They average 3.2 goals scored per match and just 1.0 conceded, and they have not failed to score in any of their 6 games. With a last-five form index of 87 and attacking index of 100, Benfica arrive in Plzen as one of the most in-form sides in the competition.

Plzen Possible Starting Lineup

GK: D. Ťapaj or M. Tvrdoň; Defenders: D. Vavro, Merchas Doski, A. Gabriel, S. Dweh; Midfielders: P. Hrošovský, L. Červ, A. Memić, C. Souaré; Forwards: M. Vydra, P. Adu.

Plzen have used both 4-4-1-1 and 3-5-1-1 formations in their Europa League matches, suggesting tactical flexibility. At home, a back four with Vavro’s experience at the heart of defence looks likely, supported by industrious midfielders such as Hrošovský and Červ. In attack, Vydra’s know-how could be paired with the pace and direct running of Adu or B. Faal. The key tactical question is whether Plzen commit extra numbers forward, as they did in the 5-1 win, or adopt a more conservative shape to contain Benfica’s prolific front line.

Benfica Possible Starting Lineup

GK: A. Trubin; Defenders: A. Bah, C. Lenglet, Tomás Araújo, S. Dahl; Midfielders: L. Barreiro, E. Barrenechea, H. Sudakov, Rafa; Forwards: V. Pavlidis, D. Lukebakio.

Benfica have primarily lined up in 4-2-3-1, with occasional use of 4-1-3-2, and both shapes suit their wealth of attacking talent. Trubin provides stability in goal, while Lenglet and Tomás Araújo offer ball-playing ability and aerial strength at centre-back. In midfield, combinations of Barreiro, Barrenechea and Sudakov give balance between ball-winning and progression. Further forward, Rafa is likely to operate between the lines behind Pavlidis, with Lukebakio or J. Durán providing width and additional goal threat. Given their attacking indices and goal output, Benfica are unlikely to deviate from an aggressive, front-foot setup.

Plzen Team News

No significant absences reported.

Benfica Team News

No significant absences reported.

Injuries & Suspensions

Plzen:

• None reported.

Benfica:

• None reported.

Betting Tips: Plzen vs Benfica

Exactly 3 distinct tips from different markets:

• Result Tip: Back Benfica draw no bet or Benfica in a double chance (draw or away). The prediction model gives Plzen only a 10% chance of winning, with 45% each for draw and Benfica. Benfica’s Europa League record of 4 wins and 1 draw in 6 matches, plus 19 goals scored, strongly supports siding with the visitors in the main result market.
• Goals Tip: Over 1.5 total goals. Both teams’ tournament statistics point towards a game with chances: Plzen matches average 4.5 total goals (5 scored, 4 conceded in 2 games), while Benfica’s average is 4.2 (19 for, 6 against in 6). The prediction advice also explicitly favours a combo of double chance (draw or Benfica) with over 1.5 goals, reinforcing this angle.
• Value Tip: V. Pavlidis to score anytime. The Benfica forward has 5 goals and 1 assist in just 3 Europa League appearances, leading both the scoring and assist charts for his club in this competition. With Benfica averaging 3.2 goals per game and Pavlidis at the centre of their attack, he represents a logical value target in the goalscorer markets.

Odds are accurate at the time of writing and subject to change. Please gamble responsibly.