Europa League: Benfica v Fenerbahce match preview

A look ahead to tonight’s Europa League fixture at the Estadio da Luz

Fenerbahce players celebrate during the first leg (GETTY IMAGES)

Benfica go into the second leg a goal down and without a valuable away goal against first-time semi-finalists Fenerbahce. The home side will be desperate to keep their opponents at bay while trying to score at least two goals to atone for their semi-final exit to Braga in the last campaign.

But Fenerbahce will want to make club history by reaching their first ever European final and only need a draw in Portugal to do so. But Aykut Kocaman’s side will not want a repeat in history. Fenebahce lost 7-1 on aggregate to Benfica in 1975 in the Uefa Cup after beating their opponents 1-0 in Istanbul. 

But the away side are the first team to beat the Lisbon-based club in the competition so they will have plenty of confidence going into the game. However Benfica boast an unbeaten record at home all season save for the 2-0 defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League.

Knowing Chelsea might progress to the final, Jorge Jesus’s side will want to meet the London club in Amsterdam for a second year running to avenge their quarter-final exit of the Champions League last season.

KICK OFF: Thursday, 8.05pm

PAST MEETINGS…

Fenerbahce 1 (Korkmaz) Benfica 0, Europa League, knock-out phase, April 2013.

STATS…

Fenerbahce have lost just one of their last 12 European games.

None of the teams left in the competition have previously won the Uefa Cup or Europa League.

Fenerbahce have won four and lost three of their last seven games against Portuguese sides.

Benfica’s last European semi-final victory was in 1990 against Olympique de Marseille in the European Cup

ODDS…

Benfica to win: 1.46

Fenerbahce to win: 8.4

Draw: 4.8

TV: Live on ITV 4 at 8.05pm