Benfica B vs Mérida AD - Friendlies Clubs

The history between Benfica B and Mérida AD lends this Friendlies Clubs fixture an extra layer of spice, and when the two walk out at the home ground on July 25, 2026, recent encounters will be on everyone's mind. Jorge Salinas is of interest to Manchester United(Image: 2024 Soccrates Images B.V.) United are one of several Premier League clubs weighing up whether to meet Bologna’s €25m (£21.7m) valuation for Jhon Lucumi, according to Corriere di Bologna.

Both camps will view the Friendlies Clubs meeting at the home ground as an opportunity to put a marker down, regardless of where they currently stand. The hosts will be looking to find their rhythm and put a run of results together. The visitors will travel in the hope that a change of scene can spark a turnaround, whatever the form book says. The Saudi Pro League side have now placed a €45 million package on the table, while Watkins himself is understood to be open to making the move.

The tactical battle could prove decisive. Benfica B may lean on their home advantage to dictate the tempo, but Mérida AD have shown they can be dangerous when allowed to play on their own terms. They are sticking to the principles of possession and pressing that have taken them from the fourth tier.

The fixture is likely to be shaped by its key performers, with creative midfielders and clinical finishers on both sides capable of turning the game in an instant. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. Arsenal have already seen one offer rejected and are expected to return with an improved proposal, while Villa continue trying to secure the England defender on a new contract.

With the sides closely matched, the outcome may well hinge on which team takes its chances on the day. With the sides so closely matched, a 1-1 stalemate looks the most likely way this one ends. The result at the home ground could resonate well beyond matchday in the Friendlies Clubs picture. A more central role appears likely given the sale of Youri Tielemans to Manchester United and the anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered by Amadou Onana at the World Cup.