Newcastle vs Benfica: Champions League odds, betting tips and predictions

• Ladbrokes previews Newcastle vs Benfica in the Champions League

• Newcastle tipped to win, with under 3.5 goals scored in the match

• Nick Woltemade backed to have a shot on target

The Champions League is back for the third round of fixtures in the 2025/26 league phase, and there's an intriguing contest on Tuesday night at St. James' Park as Newcastle United host Jose Mourinho's Benfica.

Ladbrokes brings you its odds, betting tips and predictions as Newcastle look for consecutive wins in Europe to make up for a mediocre start in the Premier League, with The Special One eager to spoil the party.

Newcastle's record signing Nick Woltemade has made a superb start to life on Tyneside, filling the big void left by Alexander Isak. The big German striker has five goals in seven games since arriving from Stuttgart, with the latest an audacious flick in the Magpies' loss to Brighton.

Woltemade also scored on his Champions League debut last time out as Eddie Howe's side ran out comfortable 4-0 winners away to Union Saint-Gilloise. We're backing him to continue his hot streak by landing at least one shot on target here.

Despite the success of Woltemade, scoring goals has been a problem for this Newcastle team more widely this season. They've scored just seven goals in eight league games, and more worrying has been the lack of chances created.

Only one of Benfica's ten games this season have had over 3.5 goals, and that was the 2-3 loss to Qarabag on Matchday One which saw Bruno Lage replaced by Mourinho. Jose is sure to make it difficult for Newcastle to break them down, so we think it's likely that there are less than four goals.

It's rare in a game involving Newcastle's midfielders not to back one of them to get booked - looking at you, Joelinton - but their antics will meet worthwhile opponents on Tuesday in Mourinho's men. Three Benfica players have already accumulated at least four bookings in the Liga Portugal, which is only eight games old.

Nicolas Otamendi, a familiar name for English fans, is one of them. But outdoing the ex-Man City centre back is another former Premier League player, Enzo Barrenechea, who's picked up five yellow cards in seven league games, and one in the Champions League for good measure. The Argentine midfielder never actually played a competitive game for Aston Villa, so we think he'll get stuck in at St. James' and be shown a card.

It's been an underwhelming start to the season for Newcastle and they currently sit 13th in the Premier League. They've been unfortunate at times in late losses to Liverpool and Arsenal, but they need to start picking up results as the season approaches a busy period. Benfica are bound to make it awkward for Eddie Howe's team and force them to break down a low block, which has been an issue for Newcastle.

However, The Magpies picked up an important away win in the Champions League last time out in Belgium, and showed against Barcelona in the first-half that at St. James' Park they can be a match for the world's best. Benfica have lost both their Champions League games so far, but were competitive in a 1-0 loss at Stamford Bridge. We're backing the home crowd to make the difference under the lights as Newcastle just about edge out Jose's side.

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All odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.

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