Plzen vs Benfica Prediction: Key Stats and Betting Tips

Plzen welcome Benfica to Doosan Arena in Plzen on 26 November 2026 for a UEFA Europa League League Stage Matchday 5 clash that could significantly shape the final standings in the new league-format table. With the Czech side currently sitting down in 36th place and the Portuguese giants up in 4th, this fixture pits an underdog with a puncher’s chance against one of the competition’s early pacesetters.

Although both teams are officially listed with zero points and zero games in the overall standings, their wider Europa League statistics paint a clear contrast. Plzen have been wildly inconsistent but explosive at home, while Benfica have combined prolific attacking with solid defensive control over a larger six-match sample. For bettors and fans searching for Plzen vs Benfica prediction angles and Europa League betting tips, this match offers a classic “strong favourite away from home” scenario.

Doosan Arena should provide a hostile environment, but Benfica arrive with the form, firepower, and depth to handle the occasion. The key question is whether Plzen’s high-scoring home outings can disrupt one of the most dangerous attacks in the competition so far.

Plzen vs Benfica Key Stats

• Plzen are ranked 36th in the Europa League league-stage table, while Benfica sit 4th.
• Plzen’s biggest Europa League win so far is 5-1 at home, but they have also suffered a 3-0 away defeat.
• Across 6 Europa League fixtures, Benfica have scored 19 goals (3.2 per match on average) and conceded just 6.

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 (tournament statistics), Benfica 1 (tournament statistics)

On the raw league table, both sides are yet to register goals or points in the consolidated standings, but the ranking gap — 36th for Plzen versus 4th for Benfica — underlines the different expectations. Benfica’s high placement reflects their strong Europa League campaign to date, with four wins, one draw and just one defeat from six fixtures.

Plzen’s lower rank mirrors a much smaller sample and a mixed start: one emphatic home win and one heavy away loss from two Europa League outings. Their goal difference across those games (5 scored, 4 conceded) shows they can hurt teams at Doosan Arena, but also that they are vulnerable at the back. Benfica, by contrast, have combined a devastating attack — including a 6-1 home win and a 3-1 away victory — with a defence that concedes only 1.0 goal per game on average. Over 6 matches, they have failed to keep just one clean sheet but have never been overrun.

Plzen vs Benfica Key Matchups

Plzen defence vs V. Pavlidis

With no Plzen player featuring among the Europa League top scorers or assisters so far, the standout individual battle is between the home defence and Benfica’s in-form striker Vangelis Pavlidis. The Greek forward has been one of the competition’s headline performers: 5 goals and 1 assist in just 3 appearances. That output means he is directly contributing to two goals per game on average, underlining his status as Benfica’s primary goal threat.

Pavlidis also appears in the top yellow cards lists with 1 booking, which suggests he plays on the edge and presses aggressively from the front. For a Plzen back line that has already conceded 4 goals in 2 Europa League matches, containing his movement in and around the box will be crucial. If they allow him space between the lines or in transition, Benfica’s attack — which averages 3.2 goals per match — could quickly overwhelm the hosts.

Midfield balance: H. Sudakov vs Plzen engine room

Another key area is the midfield, where Benfica’s H. Sudakov has quietly become an important creative presence. The Ukrainian midfielder has 1 assist from 4 Europa League appearances and features across the top assists and disciplinary charts without picking up a single yellow or red card. That combination of productivity and discipline points to a player who can control tempo and link play without taking unnecessary risks.

Plzen’s midfielders are not present in the continental top lists, so they will need a collective performance to disrupt Benfica’s rhythm. If Sudakov is allowed to dictate possession and feed the likes of Rafa, A. Schjelderup, D. Lukebakio and Pavlidis, the visitors’ multi-pronged attack — which already has eight different scorers and multiple players with both goals and assists — will be difficult to contain.

Head-to-Head: Last Meetings

There are no recent recorded head-to-head meetings between Plzen and Benfica in the available Europa League data, so this encounter effectively starts with a clean slate in historical terms.

Plzen vs Benfica Prediction

All indicators point towards Benfica arriving in Plzen as strong favourites, but the match dynamics could still be nuanced. Plzen have shown they can be explosive at home, scoring 5 goals in their only Europa League match at Doosan Arena, and their penalty record (2 scored from 3, 66.67% conversion) suggests they are capable of forcing high-pressure situations in the box.

However, Benfica’s broader body of work is far more convincing. They have played 6 Europa League matches, winning 4 and drawing 1, with an attack that scores freely and a defence that rarely concedes more than once. Their goals are spread across forwards like Pavlidis (5 goals, 1 assist), Rafa (2 goals, 1 assist), D. Lukebakio, J. Durán, A. Schjelderup, G. Prestianni and defenders such as C. Lenglet and Tomás Araújo, making them extremely difficult to game-plan against.

The prediction model gives Plzen only a 10% chance of victory, with the draw and Benfica win each rated at 45%. That “win or draw” edge for Benfica is reinforced by the comparison indices: Benfica lead in form (81 vs 19), attack (78 vs 22) and edge the overall comparison total 59.8 vs 40.3. With goal thresholds in the prediction set pointing to at least two goals in the game, a scenario where Benfica control large spells and create the clearer chances looks likely.

Predicted Score: Plzen 1-2 Benfica

Plzen Recent Form

Plzen’s recent Europa League form is mixed over a small sample. They have one win and one defeat from two fixtures, with a home record of 1 win from 1 and an away record of 1 loss from 1. Offensively, they have been potent at home, scoring 5 goals in that single match, but they have failed to score in their only away outing.

Defensively, Plzen have conceded 4 goals in 2 games (2.0 per match on average), with no tournament clean sheets so far. Their disciplinary profile shows a tendency to pick up yellow cards late in matches, with a significant share arriving after the 76th minute, which could be an issue if they are chasing the game against Benfica.

Benfica Recent Form

Benfica’s recent Europa League form is impressive: 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat across 6 fixtures, with a strong balance between home and away performances. At home they have been perfect, winning all 3 matches, while away they have 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss.

They have scored 19 goals in those 6 games (3.2 per match), with their attack consistently dangerous throughout matches rather than relying on one period. Defensively they have conceded just 6 times (1.0 per match) and recorded 1 clean sheet, while also maintaining a perfect 4-from-4 record from the penalty spot. Overall, their form line “LWWDWW” underlines a side that has quickly recovered from an early setback to become one of the competition’s form teams.

Plzen Possible Starting Lineup

With no confirmed match lineup data available, a likely Plzen selection will be built around their core squad options:

GK: D. Ťapaj or M. Tvrdoň
Defenders: V. Jemelka, D. Vavro, Merchas Doski, A. Gabriel, S. Dweh
Midfielders: L. Červ, P. Hrošovský, A. Memić, C. Souaré, D. Višinský, A. Sojka
Forwards: T. Ladra, P. Adu, B. Faal, C. Kabongo, S. Lawal, M. Toure, M. Vydra

Plzen have alternated between 4-4-1-1 and 3-5-1-1 formations in their two Europa League fixtures, suggesting tactical flexibility. At home, a more aggressive 4-4-1-1 or 4-2-3-1 shape is plausible, using wide attackers like T. Ladra and one of B. Faal, S. Lawal or M. Vydra as the central striker. Experience from players such as P. Hrošovský and V. Jemelka will be vital to stabilise the side against Benfica’s high press and quick transitions.

Benfica Possible Starting Lineup

Benfica have shown a clear tactical identity in Europe, primarily using a 4-2-3-1 system (3 matches) and occasionally a 4-1-3-2 (2 matches). A likely selection from their available squad could look like:

GK: A. Trubin
Defenders: A. Bah, C. Lenglet, Tomás Araújo, S. Dahl or S. El Karouani
Midfielders: Joāo Palhinha, E. Barrenechea, H. Sudakov, J. Kamiński, Rafa
Forwards: V. Pavlidis, with rotation options from D. Lukebakio, J. Durán, A. Schjelderup and G. Prestianni

The depth in attacking and creative positions is striking: Pavlidis (5 goals, 1 assist), Rafa (2 goals, 1 assist), A. Schjelderup and D. Lukebakio (both 1 goal, 1 assist) all offer different profiles, while wide players like J. Kamiński, A. Bah and G. Prestianni have chipped in with assists and goals. Expect Benfica to line up with a double pivot to control midfield and a fluid front four interchanging behind Pavlidis, looking to exploit any space left by Plzen’s adventurous wing-backs or full-backs.

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

Below are three data-backed betting ideas for this Europa League clash:

• Result Tip: Back Benfica in the Double Chance (Benfica or Draw). With Benfica given a 45% chance to win and the draw also at 45%, versus just 10% for a Plzen victory, the numbers heavily favour the visitors avoiding defeat. Their form line of LWWDWW across six Europa League matches, combined with superior comparison indices in form and attack, supports a conservative Benfica-or-draw angle.
• Goals Tip: Over 1.5 total goals. Plzen’s Europa League games are averaging 4.5 goals (5 scored, 4 conceded in 2 matches), while Benfica’s are at 4.2 goals per game (19 scored, 6 conceded in 6). The prediction advice explicitly leans towards “+1.5 goals”, and both teams have shown they can contribute to open contests. Over 1.5 looks a logical baseline goals play.
• Value Tip: V. Pavlidis to score anytime. Pavlidis has 5 goals and 1 assist from just 3 Europa League appearances and also appears across the top scorer, assists and card charts, underlining how central he is to Benfica’s attack. Facing a Plzen defence that concedes 2.0 goals per game and has yet to keep a clean sheet in the tournament, backing Pavlidis in the goalscorer markets offers strong statistical value.

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