Twente coach Corina Dekker has candidly stated that her team would pull off a “surprise” if they defeat Benfica in their upcoming Women’s Champions League match, acknowledging her opponent’s superior strength despite her own club’s recent domestic achievements.
Dekker described Benfica as a “better team” with “a lot of strength, technical skill, and energy,” predicting a “tough fight” for the Dutch club.
“If we win here, it would be a surprise, because I think Benfica has a better team,” she added, emphasizing the Portuguese side’s balanced play.
The Twente coach, whose team secured a domestic treble last season, gave Benfica a 60% chance of victory compared to Twente’s 40%. She expressed deep respect for Benfica, citing their strong performances against Arsenal and Juventus.
“Against Arsenal, they did a good job and put up a good fight. Against Juventus, the same fight,” Dekker noted. “It will be very open, two teams that want to win and need the points.”
Benfica, the five-time Portuguese champion, currently holds zero points after two matchdays, ranking 15th in the Women’s Champions League league phase.
Twente, a two-time Dutch champion, will travel to face Benfica at Estádio da Luz in Lisbon on Wednesday at 8:00 PM local time.
This season marks the first time the Women’s Champions League adopts a single-league format, mirroring the men’s competition. The league consists of 18 clubs, with each team playing six different opponents, three at home and three away.
Under the new format, the top four teams will advance directly to the quarterfinals. Teams finishing between fifth and 12th place will compete in a playoff for the remaining quarterfinal spots, while the rest will be eliminated.