Benfica Lisbon vs Shakhtar Donetsk Prediction & Betting Tips - Europa League

Prediction published on 24/02/2020, 10:10  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 26/02/2020 at 18:40 in Europa League Prediction

Dominated by their opponents in Ukraine, Benfica will have a point to prove when they take on Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa League Round of 32 this week. Last Thursday's first leg saw the Portuguese Liga champions fall to a 2-1 defeat. Second-best in terms of possession and second-best when it came to shots taken, the scoreline reflected Benfica's ranking. Shakhtar put in an accomplished performance, stringing neat passing moves together, their first goal being the product of one such play. It's hard to point fingers for the first goal (scored by Alan Patrick) but the blame falls at the feet of defender Ruben Dias for the second. Given the chance to clear the ball under pressure, Dias dawdled and the subsequent interception led to Shakhtar's winner.

The defeat was the latest in a string of negative results to befall Benfica. Struggling through a slump, their vulnerable state has been preyed upon by ruthless opponents like Porto and Braga. Success is taken for granted at Benfica and their high standards have been left hanging on the current four-game winless run. This Europa League showdown would be an ideal time to end it. If an ideal venue was to be chosen it would probably be the Estadio Da Luz. That's because Benfica have never lost at home in the Europa League, a run of 22 games that stretches back several years. While that record is encouraging, we aren't inspired by this incarnation of Benfica. We think Shakhtar will leave Portugal unbeaten and progress to the next round. Back the visitors double chance.