Prediction: St. Gallen vs Benfica

Portuguese giants Benfica begin their Europa League qualifying journey on Thursday, traveling to Switzerland to face St Gallen at the Sitterstadion.

Despite the World Cup only just finishing, European clubs are already back in competitive action, and this tie marks the first leg of the second qualifying round.

St Gallen

Compared to their illustrious visitors, St Gallen remain modest players on the continental stage, with limited success in UEFA competitions. Their history includes group-stage elimination in the 2013 Europa League and a lowly 29th-place finish in the 2024 Conference League standings.

This season, they must overcome formidable opposition to reach the third qualifying round, where the loser of Sturm Graz vs Hearts in the Champions League would await. Defeat here would drop them into the Conference League.

Domestically, the 2025–26 campaign was a landmark year. St Gallen defeated Stade Lausanne-Ouchy 3–0 in the Swiss Cup final, ending a 26-year trophy drought, and finished runners-up in the Super League behind surprise champions FC Thun.

Their summer form has been mixed: three friendly wins were followed by heavy losses to Lyon (6–3) and Norwich City (3–0).

Team News

Lawrence Ati-Zigi will once again provide the last line of defence in goal. Behar Neziri remains sidelined with a long-term ACL injury, while Nino Weibel is doubtful due to a knee problem.

Captain Lukas Görtler, who was sent off in the recent defeat to Lyon, will lead the team; he has previously scored twice in 15 UEFA competition appearances.

Benfica endured a curious 2025–26 season, finishing unbeaten in the Primeira Liga yet only managing third place under José Mourinho. That achievement was enough to tempt Real Madrid into reappointing Mourinho, with Marco Silva now taking charge at Estádio da Luz.

Silva, a Lisbon native, returns home after nearly a decade in England, most recently earning plaudits for his work at Fulham. His new team has had limited preparation, playing only two friendlies: a 2–1 defeat to Flamengo and a 2–0 victory over Villarreal.

Due to Torreense’s shock cup triumph over Sporting, Benfica must navigate two qualifying rounds plus a playoff to reach the Europa League proper. Last season, they reached the Champions League knockout stage but were eliminated by Real Madrid.

Team News

New signings Jakub Kaminski and Jhon Duran have joined the squad, though Duran’s fitness remains uncertain. Several players are unavailable: Gianluca Prestianni is suspended, Bruma is injured, and Richard Rios, Dodi Lukebakio, Fredrik Aursnes, and Andreas Schjelderup are all on leave following World Cup duty.

Amar Dedic and Tomas Araujo may return in time for the match, while Clement Lenglet has arrived on loan from Atlético Madrid to strengthen the defence.

Up front, Vangelis Pavlidis is expected to start, having scored in both pre-season friendlies after netting twice in last season’s Champions League campaign.

Key Points to Consider

• St Gallen’s domestic success last season provides confidence, but their European pedigree remains limited.
• Benfica’s managerial change brings uncertainty, with Marco Silva debuting in continental competition.
• Squad absences could hinder Benfica, though their depth still offers quality options.
• Home advantage may help St Gallen narrow the gap against superior opposition.
• Recent friendly results suggest defensive vulnerabilities for the Swiss side.
• Benfica’s European experience could prove decisive in handling the pressure of qualification.

Conclusion

St Gallen enter this tie with momentum from their domestic achievements and the benefit of home support, which may reduce the gulf in quality.

However, despite missing several key players, Benfica’s squad depth and European pedigree make them strong contenders to take control of the tie.

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