Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s Champions League clash between Benfica and Dynamo Kyiv, including predictions, team news and possible line-ups.
On a streak of 11 consecutive victories in all competitions, Benfica be the host of DynamoKiev in the second leg of their Champions League playoff clash on Tuesday.
The Ukrainian side travel to the Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica to overturn a two-goal deficit and make a memorable comeback after last week’s first leg defeat.
Match Preview
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Benfica are now 90 minutes out of the Champagne League group stages as they cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win over Dynamo Kyiv in the first leg of their qualifying knockout clash last Wednesday.
In an exciting contest at the municipal stadium Wladyslaw Krol, Gilberto gave the Portuguese side the perfect start by opening the scoring in the first nine minutes before Goncalo Ramos completed the scoring with a strike in the 37th minute.
Prior to that, As Aguias picked up two wins in their first two games of the new Primeira Liga campaign as they eliminated newly-promoted Casa Pia 1-0 thanks to Ramos’ second-half effort.
Benfica now return to the Champions League qualifiers where they will be looking to conclude their campaign with a 100 per cent record, having won all three of their games so far while scoring nine goals and conceding twice.
Roger SchmidtThe side head into the midweek contest on an 11-game winning streak in all competitions, dating back to a 1-0 loss at the hands of Porto when the sides played each other in the Primeira Liga in May.
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On the other hand, after winning three and drawing one in their first four matches, last week’s first leg defeat ended Dynamo Kyiv’s unbeaten run in the qualifiers.
Before that, Mircea LucescuThe men kicked off their quest for a place in the group stages of Europe’s biggest club competition with a 2-1 aggregate win over Fenerbahçe in July.
This was followed by a 1-0 win at home to Sturm Graz in the first leg of their third qualifying round on August 3 before traveling to the Merkur Arena six days later to beat the Austrian side 2-1 and secure a 3-1 aggregate win. .
While the Ukrainian side will be looking to stage a memorable comeback and cause an upset, they have managed just two wins in their last five away games in all competitions, scoring five goals and dispatching 10 during this period.
They will also be desperate to end their winless run against Benfica as they head into Tuesday on a run of four defeats and one draw in their last five meetings with the Portuguese side since October 2016.
Benfica Champions League form:
Benfica form (all competitions):
Dynamo Kyiv Champions League form:
Dynamo kyiv form (all competitions):
Team News
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Barring late fitness concerns, Benfica head into Monday without any new injury concerns as the Brazilian duo of Lucas Verissimo and Joe Victor continue their spells away.
Verissimo has been out of action since last November with a knee injury, while the former Corinthians defender is yet to make his debut after picking up a muscle problem in July.
Schmidt saw his side earn a comfortable first-leg victory against the Ukrainian side last week and we expect the German tactician to name a similar starting XI on Monday.
Ramos has been involved in seven goals in the first five games of the season and the Portuguese striker is set to lead the attack again, teaming up with Rafa Silva and former Inter Milan player Joao Mario.
Whereas Nicolas Otamendi received a direct red card in As Aguias’ last Primeira Liga outing, he is expected to form a centre-back duo with Philip Morato for the ninth consecutive game, while Enzo Fernandez and Florentino Luis should keep their roles in midfield.
Meanwhile, Dynamo Kyiv will be without their 29-year-old defender Volodymyr Kostevichwho has been out of action since last December due to a long injury.
He is joined on the club’s injury chart by the striker Vladyslav Supryagawho has been out of action since sustaining a hip injury in the 2-1 friendly loss to Royal Antwerp in July.
Visitors will be stimulated by the return of Denys Garmasch and Sergiy Sydorchukafter the pair missed the first leg through suspension after crossing the yellow card threshold with their bookings against Sturm Graz on August 9.
Benfica’s possible starting line-up:
Vlachodimos; Gilberto, Otamendi, Morato, Grimaldo; Luis, Fernandez; Mario, Silva, Neres; Ramos
Possible starting line-up of Dynamo Kyiv:
Bushchan; Kedziora, Zabarnyi, Syrota, Dubinchak; Shaparenko, Andriyevskiy, Shepeliev; Buyalskyi, Tsygankov, Besedin
We say: Benfica 2-0 Dynamo Kyiv
Benfica head into Monday’s game as one of the fittest sides in the qualifiers and will be looking to pick up where they fell in the second leg. They are currently firing at full steam and we’re backing them to secure another comfortable victory, sealing their place in the Champions League group stages.
For a data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match, please click here.
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