Nicolas Gaitan has not travelled with Benfica for this afternoon's Champions League trip to Astana.

The Argentine midfielder is suspended for the clash and as a result Renato Sanches has been drafted into the starting lineup by head coach Rui Vitoria.

Further forward Fulham loanee Kostas Mitroglou has been dropped to the bench, with Raul Jimenez recalled to the attack.

As for the home side, centre-forward Baurzhan Dzholchiyev, who scored two goals during the qualifying campaign, is banned for this encounter.

Astana: Eric; Ilic, Anicic, Postnikov, Shomko; Maksimovic, Canas, Kethevoama, Muzhikov; Twumasi, Kabananga
Subs: Loginovski, Akhmetov, Beysebekov, Zhukov, Kozhamberdy, Dedechko, Schetkin

Benfica: Cesar, Silvio, Lopez, Jardel, Eliseu; Samaris, Renato Sanches, Goncalo Guedes, Pizzi; Jonas, Jimenez
Subs: Ederson, Cristante, Almeida, Santos, Talisca, Carcela, Mitroglou

Written by
Liam Apicella