The Eagles will be looking to overturn a 3-2 deficit and secure a place in the quarter-finals of Europe’s top tier competition at the expense of the Anti-aircraft gunners.
Benfica:
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jorge-c19120 Jesus’ side have experienced a major turnaround in their fortunes in the last couple of months. Their form in the Primeira Liga has waned and they have been ousted from the top spot by FC Porto, courtesy of an away win at Estadio da Luz.
Against a tough Zenit side, the Lisbon giants will have to at their very best and take any chances that come their way.
Zenit St. Petersburg:
The Zenitchiki drew their crucial game 2-2 against CSKA Moscow but have generally been up to standard this term. After disposing off Primeira Liga champions http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Porto-c39186 in the group stages, Luciano Spalletti’s men will head to the Stadium of Light with confidence.
Team News:
Benfica:
While the Reds faced an arduous task against the Russian giants, their mission to get back into the tie has been made even harder, following injuries to key duo Pablo Aimar and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ezequiel-Garay-c13071.
Garay, who was already stretched thin following his exertions for the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Argentina-c2841 National team, took to the field against Porto and eventually hobbled off, as his knee got damaged. With the swelling not going down, he is effectively ruled out of the UEFA
Champions League clash.
Influential play-maker Pablo Aimar is also set to sit this one out with myalgia but there is an outside chance that he could recover in time for Zenit’s visit.
With Jorge Jesus facing a difficult task in naming his midfield and defence, certain changes are expected to be made. In Garay’s absence, Miguel http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Maxi-Pereira-c25004
and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Axel-Witsel-c7029 will hold the midfield.
As Aimar could be on the sidelines, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Bruno-c8098 Cesar could be fielded alongside Nolito and Nicolas Gaitan, who will play right behind solitary striker Oscar Cardozo.
Zenit St. Petersburg:
Favourites to progress, the Russian Premier League outfit come into the game boasting the return of first choice goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeyev and defender Domenico Criscito, who were both out with a calf injury and food poisoning respectively.
Last time out, step-in shot stopper http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Luciano-c22574 Spalletti, his side have the necessary reinforcement
at the back in order to grind out an away win.
Key Players:
Benfica: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Oscar-c28720 Cardozo
The mercurial Paraguayan is currently the top scorer in the Primeira Liga and has displayed his lethal form in the last couple of games, despite his side not winning them. He will look to lead the line, in the absence of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Pablo-Aimar-c28938, who usually commands
the centre of the park with authority.
Zenit St. Petersburg: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roman-Shirokov-c31645
The attacker netted a superb brace the last time these two teams met and his potency up-front could be key to the Russians getting a result in Lisbon.
Prediction:
Benfica have been below-par during their last couple of league outings but Zenit haven’t played many fixtures either and could be low on match fitness, setting up an evenly matched encounter, which the away side should triumph in with a 1-0 win.
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