[Mario]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
10/1/2014

Home - Bayer Leverkusen
Last away matches - D-L-L-W-W-W

Bayer Leverkusen vs Benfica
Bayer Leverkusen and Benfica are two of the Champions League's perennial dark horses, but they're unfortunate to have been drawn in a very even group this year. In Group C there are no great teams to take points from everyone, and there are no bad teams from which you can guarantee three points. It's as unpredictable as any matchup in the tournament.

Away - Benfica
Last away matches - W-W-W-L-W-L

Nicolás Gaitán has been Benfica's best player for a few years now, and yet bizarrely no bigger team has been willing to take him on and give him a chance in one of Europe's major leagues. Not that that's a bad thing for Benfica, of course. He's sometimes a nominal winger, and at other times a central attacking midfielder, but his position isn't really important -- he drifts laterally across the field from wherever he's deployed. Superb in one-on-ones and a fine passer, he'll be a big part of any success Benfica have in this match.

Asian Handicap
Home - (-0.25)
Away - (+0.25)
Pick - Benfica (+0.25)
Odds - 2.40
Stakes - 8/10