Preview:Benfica vs Fenerbahce - prediction, team news, lineups

A goalless first leg leaves everything to play for in Benfica's Champions League playoff against Fenerbahce, before the teams reconvene in Lisbon on Wednesday.

The hosts are looking to secure a fifth consecutive appearance in the group or league phase, while Fener seek a seat at Europe's top table for the first time since 2008.

Match preview

Having made the last 16 as recently as March - before reaching the same stage of this summer's Club World Cup - Benfica are established regulars at the top level of continental competition.

As such, the pressure is on them to prevail this week, following a tense 0-0 draw at Stadyumu Sukru Saracoglu: the Portuguese giants survived a tough test in Turkey despite playing with 10 men for the final 20 minutes.

Though Florentino Luis was sent off for a second booking, the visitors held on for yet another clean sheet - their fifth in as many matches.

Bruno Lage's side took that tally to six on Saturday, with a routine 3-0 win over Tondela, and they have begun their domestic campaign in flawless fashion, winning all five games so far.

As well as following Super Cup victory over city rivals Sporting Lisbon with a pair of Primeira Liga wins, they also dispatched Nice 4-0 on aggregate in the Champions League's third qualifying round.

Furthermore, ahead of Wednesday's playoff decider, Benfica have won half of their eight prior meetings with Fenerbahce and only suffered one defeat.

Indeed, Fener have lost three of the last five encounters, including a 3-2 friendly defeat last month, but they still have hope of making it through to the league phase.

After failing again last summer, Jose Mourinho's men had to settle for a spot in the Europa League, progressing to the knockout rounds before succumbing to Rangers.

This year, the Yellow Canaries entered Champions League qualification in the third round and ultimately stormed past Feyenoord 6-4 on aggregate, despite trailing 2-1 from the away leg.

To book their place in Thursday's main draw, they must now produce a similar second-leg performance - but this time on foreign soil.

Fener were held to a goalless draw away at Goztepe in their first Super Lig outing, but a 3-1 weekend win over Kocaelispor warmed Mourinho's squad up nicely for the tough task of knocking out Benfica.

Benfica Champions League form: W W D

Benfica form (all competitions): W W W W D W

Fenerbahce Champions League form: L W D

Fenerbahce form (all competitions): L W D D W

Team News

On Saturday, Bruno Lage made five changes to the side that started in Istanbul, but Antonio Silva, Kerem Akturkoglu and goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin should all return - however, Florentino misses out through suspension.

Akturkoglu will be particularly keen to impress a club that have been trying to sign him this summer; he is set to feature in the supporting cast for Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis, who averages a goal every other game in UEFA competition.

Bruma, Manu Silva and Alexander Bah are all sidelined by injury for the hosts, while their visitors will be missing Cenk Tosun, Rodrigo Becao and club captain Mert Hakan Yandas.

Jose Mourinho can welcome back Jayden Oosterwolde, though, after the Dutch defender served a domestic ban at the weekend - he may feature in a back three for Fener.

Yet to find their rhythm as a pair, Jhon Duran and Youssef En-Nesyri should again lead the line, with Polish playmaker Sebastian Szymanski linking midfield and attack.

Benfica possible starting lineup: Trubin; Dedic, Silva, Otamendi, Dahl; Rios, Barrenechea, Barreiro; Aursnes, Pavlidis, Akturkoglu

Fenerbahce possible starting lineup: Egribayat; Muldur, Skirniar, Oosterwolde; Semedo, Amrabat, Fred, Brown; Szymanski; Duran, En-Nesyri

We say: Benfica 2-1 Fenerbahce (Benfica win 2-1 on aggregate)

Doling out more disappointment to Jose Mourinho and co, Benfica's greater durability should see them over the line on home turf.

Not only are the Eagles are proven performers at Europe's elite level, but they have also been impossible to score past this season, so a cherished place in the league phase awaits.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.