Benfica will look to continue their participation in the Champions League when they welcome Dutch heavyweights Ajax to Lisbon this Wednesday in the first leg of their UCL knockout round game.
Venue: Estádio da Luz (Lisbon)
Key Statistics
Benfica are playing in the UCL knockout round for the first time in five years.
The hosts have won seven of their last eight home games vs Dutch opponents (D1).
However, the Eagles have won just two of their last five home games (W2, D1, L2).
Ajax are currently on a six-game-winning run in the UCL.
Erik ten Hag is unbeaten as Ajax coach against Portugues opponents (W3, D1).
They have scored 14 goals in their last four games.
The hosts have not conceded a goal in four games.
Head to head
In six head-to-head meetings between both sides, Ajax have the advantage, winning three times while Benfica have one win in that period (D20.
Latest performances in all competitions
Benfica: D-W-W-L-L
Ajax: W-W-W-W-W
Benfica
After their disappointing outing in the Portuguese League last weekend, Benfica will now turn their attention to the UEFA Champions League.
The hosts come into this tie on the back of a 2-2 draw with Boavista in the domestic league. The result leaves them far behind the Liga Portugal title race as they are currently trailing leaders FC Porto by 12 points.
Their journey to this stage of the Champions League came through a second-place finish in their group. The Portuguese side were put in a tough group alongside Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Dynamo Kyiv.
But they gave a good account of themselves as they finished second ahead of Barcelona, who they beat 3-0 at home before holding them to a 0-0 draw in Now Camp.
With their record in this year’s group stage, Nelson Verissimo’s side will come into this tie with no fear. They have won seven of their last eight home games vs Dutch opponents and will be desperate to add Ajax to their list of slain giants.
However, their home form going into this tie is not very good as they have won just one 90 minute game on this ground in their last five games.
Possible Benfica starting line-up
Odysseas Vlachodimos; Valentino Lazaro, Nicolas Otamendi, Jan Vertonghen, Alejandro Grimaldo; Rafa Silva, Adel Taarabt, Julian Weigl, Everton; Roman Yaremchuk, Darwin Nunez.
Injured: Rodrigo Pinho, Lucas Verissimo
Doubtful: Haris Seferovic
Suspended: None
Ajax
Four times UCL champions Ajax will look to keep their impressive form going when they travel to Lisbon this Wednesday.
The visitors have been in imperious form this season and are one of the three teams (alongside Liverpool and Bayern Munich) that won all their group games. They come into this tie on the back of a 1-0 win over Willem II in the Dutch Eredivisie.
The win was their tenth win in a row and saw them keep a fourth straight clean sheet. Overall, they have kept nine clean sheets from their last ten games and have scored 39 goals in that period while conceding just one goal.
Such lethal form makes them favourites for a win in this game. They will fancy their chances of getting a win here and will become the first side outside of the ‘big five’ European leagues to win seven straight games in the tournament if they can replicate that stunning group form here.
Possible Ajax starting line-up
Remko Pasveer; Noussair Mazraoui, Perr Schuurs, Lisandro Martinez, Daley Blind; Edson Alvarez, Davy Klaassen; Antony, Steven Berghuis, Dusan Tadic; Sebastien Haller.
Injured: Brian Brobbey, Maarten Stekelenburg
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Benfica 1-3 Ajax
