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Benfica
Europa League | Group Stage
Dec 3, 2020 at 8pm UK
Estádio da Luz
Benfica
4 - 0
Lech Poznan
Vertonghen (36'), Nunez (57'), Pizzi (58'), Weigl (89')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Katcharava (2'), Marchwinski (72')

Preview: Benfica vs. Lech Poznan - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Europa League clash between Standard Liege and Lech Poznan, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Benfica head into their Europa League encounter with Lech Poznan on Thursday night knowing that victory will confirm their place in the last 32 of the competition.

Poznan, meanwhile, who sit five points behind Benfica in Group D, must win if they are to have any chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.


Match preview

Benfica head coach Jorge Jesus pictured on November 5, 2020© Reuters

Benfica returned to winning ways in the Primeira Liga on Monday as they beat Maritimo 2-1 away from home.

Pizzi's equaliser in the 32nd minute was followed by a strike from Everton six minutes after half time, which helped secure the Eagles' first win in three league matches.

Jorge Jesus is still aware of his side's defensive frailties however, with Benfica conceding 10 goals in the Portuguese top flight as well as seven goals in the Europa League this campaign.

Benfica head into Thursday's match knowing that a victory would secure their qualification to the knockout stages.

The Eagles have never lost in five previous meetings with Polish opponents, winning the reverse fixture against Lech Poznan 4-2 in October.

Benfica are also unbeaten in their last eight group stage games in the Europa League – winning six and drawing the other two – scoring two or more goals in each match in this run.

Lech Poznan players celebrate scoring against Standard Liege on November 5, 2020© Reuters

Lech Poznan still have a slim chance of progressing from Group D, despite losing 2-1 to Standard Liege in their last Europa League match.

The Polish outfit come into the game off the back of a narrow 1-0 away victory at Lechia Gdansk, which was their first win in four matches in all competitions.

After winning their first ever meeting with Portuguese opponents back in February 2011 – a 1-0 victory over Braga – Dariusz Zuraw's side are winless in their last four such games, failing to score on three of those occasions.

Lech Poznan, who have also lost four of their last five Europa League group stage games, know that they must win in Lisbon if they wish to progress to the last 32.

Benfica Europa League form: WWDD
Benfica form (all competitions): LDLWDW

Lech Poznan Europa League form: LLWL
Lech Poznan form (all competitions): WWLDLW


Team News

Benfica's Darwin Nunez celebrates with a teammate after scoring against Rangers on November 5, 2020© Reuters

Benfica's Jean-Clair Todibo (Achilles tendon), Andre Almeida (cruciate ligament rupture), Nuno Tavares (hip) and Pedrinho (foot problem) are all out injured.

Adel Taarabt, Julian Weigl and Darwin Nunez are also unavailable after testing positive for coronavirus.

Forward Luca Waldschmidt is set to remain in the side, playing up front with Haris Seferovic and Everton.

Poznan defender Dorde Crnomarkovic is suspended after being shown a red card in the loss to Liege.

Left-back Tymoteusz Puchacz and midfielder Michal Skoras could be brought into the starting lineup, replacing Vasyl Kravets and Jakub Kaminski respectively.

Benfica possible starting lineup:
Vlachodimos; Goncalves, Otamendi, Vertonghen, Grimaldo; Rafa, Pires, Pizzi; Everton, Seferovic, Waldschmidt

Lech Poznan possible starting lineup:
Bednarek; Czerwinski, Satka, Rogne, Puchacz; Skoras, Tiba, Moder, Marchwinski; Ramirez; Ishak


SM words green background

We say: Benfica 2-1 Lech Poznan

With Benfica conceding 12 goals in their last six matches in all competitions, Lech Poznan will believe they can cause problems offensively, however the home side should have enough quality to secure the three points in Group D.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Away:data


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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Benfica win with a probability of 44.91%. A win for Lech Poznan had a probability of 33.81% and a draw had a probability of 21.3%.

The most likely scoreline for a Benfica win was 2-1 with a probability of 8.3%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 3-1 (5.56%) and 3-2 (4.81%). The likeliest Lech Poznan win was 1-2 (7.14%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (8.25%). The actual scoreline of 4-0 was predicted with a 1.6% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Benfica would win this match.


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Benfica's Darwin Nunez celebrates with a teammate after scoring against Rangers on November 5, 2020
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Group A

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3Olympiacos62137
4Backa Topola60151

Group B

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QBrighton641113
QMarseille632111
3Ajax61235
4AEK Athens61144

Group C

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QRangers632111
QSparta Prague631210
3Betis63039
4Aris Limassol61144

Group D

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QAtalanta642014
QSporting Lisbon632111
3Sturm Graz61144
4Rakow61144

Group E

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QToulouse632111
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Group F

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QRennes640212
3M. Haifa61235
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Group G

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QRoma641113
3Servette61235
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Group H

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3Molde62137
4Hacken60060

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