14 September 2022
● PORTUGUESE PROFICIENCY Juventus have lost only one of their nine home games against Portuguese sides in European competition, although the defeat came precisely against Benfica (0-1 in May 1968). The bianconeri are unbeaten in their last seven games since that knockout, with six wins and a draw, including last time out against Porto in the 2020/21 Champions League (3-2).
● ITALIAN INTENSITY In all competitions, Benfica have lost 10 of their last 12 away games against Italian sides (one win and one draw), and their only victory in this sequence has come against Fiorentina in the 1996-97 Cup Winners' Cup. The Portuguese outfit have lost all three away games in Italy played in the Champions League.
● MACCA'S MISSION Weston McKennie scored in Juventus' 2-1 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain: he could become only the third American player to score in two-consecutive Champions League games, after Fabian Johnson (November 2015) and Christian Pulisic (March 2022).
● GIFTED GRIMALDO Benfica's Alejandro Grimaldo has actively participated in four goals in his last four Champions League games (one goal, three assists), more than in his first 27 appearances of the competition (two goals, one assist). The Spaniard has provided more assists in the Champions League than any other Benfica player since the start of last season (four).
● FILIP FOCUS Filip Kostic has been directly involved in five goals in his last five appearances in major European competitions (two goals, three assists), including assisting Weston McKennie on his Champions League debut on Matchday 1.
