Anderlecht-Benfica Statistical Preview

Probable Lineups

AB stats 1

Team News

Anderlecht

Matias Suarez is out for the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament rupture.
Ronald Vargas and Guillaume Gillet returned to action from injury at the weekend, with both featuring from the bench and the latter netting in defeat to Charleroi.
American midfielder Sacha Kljestan is suspended so Demy de Zeeuw and Luka Milivojevic should both start in the middle.

Benfica

Eduardo Salvio is the only long term absentee through injury for Benfica, with full-back Silvio back in the starting line-up in the victory aver Braga this weekend.
Nemanja Matic netted the only goal in that game and will be partnered in the double pivot by Enzo Perez, with Fejsa set to continue to miss out.
There could be starts for Matic’s compatriots Djuricic and Markovic, with Oscar Cardozo again getting the nod up front in European competition.

Match Facts

Anderlecht have failed to win their last 6 matches in the Champions League (including qualifiers).

Prediction

Anderlecht may be bottom of the group but victory here will give them a chance of finishing in the third place Europa League qualification spot, so they are still in need of the points.
The visitors really need to win this game and hope that Olympiakos lose in Paris as expected in order to draw level on points with the Greeks.
Defeat for the Portuguese outfit would mean that they are unable to overtake Olympiakos due to their inferior head-to-head record so victory is a must and they should be strong enough to get the three points.

Anderlecht 0 - 1 Benfica