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Preview: Benfica vs. Fenerbahce

Sports Mole previews the second leg of the Europa League semi-final between Portugal's Benfica and Fenerbahce of Turkey.

Turkish outfit Fenerbahce were left to rue a host of missed chances during the opening leg of their Europa League semi-final tie against Benfica last week.

Despite having hit the woodwork on three occasions and creating numerous opportunities throughout the 90 minutes, they only have a 1-0 advantage ahead of the second leg in Portugal on Thursday night.

They will be hoping that the encounter doesn't end the same way it did when they last made the trip to face Benfica back in 1975 when they slumped to a 7-0 defeat.

Any positive result that the visitors may achieve will have to be done so without the services of Mehmet Topal and Cameroon striker Pierre Webo, both of whom are suspended.

Meanwhile, hosting Benfica do not have any suspension worries, although striker Rui Fonte will be absent with a knee injury.

Fenerbahce are yet to lose in six away matches in this season's competition, while Benfica are unbeaten in 13 home games over three UEFA Europa League campaigns, winning 12 of them.

Recent form

Benfica: WDDWWW

Fenerbahce: DWDLWW

Possible starting lineups

Benfica: Moraes; Garay, Pereira, Melgarejo, Jardel; Aimar, Matic, Salvio, Gomes; Cardozo, John

Fenerbahce: Demirel; Yobo, Ziegler, Korkmaz, Gonul; Raul Meireles, Sahin, Baroni, Krasic; Kuyt, Sow

Sports Mole says: 2-1


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Written by
Liam Apicella
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Fener's Raul Meireles celebrates his goal against Borussia Moenchengladbach on October 4, 2012
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2Benfica1210113172431
3Porto1310123192231
4Santa ClaraSanta Clara139041612427
5Braga137332213924
6Vitoria de GuimaraesGuimaraes136341612421
7MoreirenseMoreirense146261919020
8FamalicaoFamalicao134631412218
9Gil Vicente144461724-716
10Rio AveRio Ave134361323-1015
11Casa Pia133551117-614
12Estoril PraiaEstoril133551219-714
13Nacional13337817-912
14Estrela Amadora133371222-1012
15BoavistaBoavista142571019-911
16AVS132561021-1111
17SC FarenseFarense14239720-139
18AroucaArouca13229723-168


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