Benfica come up against a Portuguese coach and three former players as they bid to get past Zenit and reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals again.
The meeting between Benfica and Zenit can be seen as some kind of Benfica reunion, as Zenit midfielder Javi Garcia and defender Ezequiel Garay each spent three seasons at Benfica earlier in their careers – Garay moved directly between the clubs in 2014 while Spaniard Garcia arrived at Zenit via Manchester City. Of course, there is also Axel Witsel, who was at Benfica in 2011/12, and moved to Zenit for a staggering €40M fee and becoming one of the key members of the Russian team.
One must not forget Andre Villas-Boas as well, as the ex-Porto manager faced Benfica on seven occasions while coach at Porto and A. Academica de Coimbra, winning four matches and losing three. Before this meeting, he was keen to ensure that “the long winter break is not a problem,” as they “made sure that they would approach the Benfica match in the best possible physical shape.”
As for the hosts, they saw their eight-match winning run in the Primeira Liga come to a halt against their fierce rivals as Villas-Boas’ former club Porto ran out 2-1 winners at the Estadio da Luz on Friday, and with their city-rivals Sporting beating Nacional a day later to go three points clear at the top of the Portuguese top flight, Benfica know their fight for titles now really begins.
With 23 Primeira Liga goals to his name this term, Jonas is second in the Golden Shoe table this season behind Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain (24 goals).
Head to Head:
This will be a fifith meeting between Benfica and Zenit, with the Russian side enjoying an advantage in score – they have so far won thrice, compared to a single victory of the Eagles. However, in their only knockout stage duel, it was Benfica who managed to proceed, as they won 2-0 at Luz following a 3-2 defeat in Russia in the Round of 16 of the 2011/12 season. Two sides were paired together in the Group Stage last season and Zenit managed to win both of their games.
Match facts:
- This is the first time Benfica have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League since 2011/12. That season, they were eliminated by eventual winners Chelsea in the quarter-finals.
- Benfica finished second in Group C behind Atletico Madrid to reach the knockout stages.
- Zenit have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League for the third time in the last five seasons (2011/12, 2013/14, 2015/16). However, they have never made it past the Last 16.
- Zenit finished top in Group H ahead of Gent to reach the knockout stages.
- Benfica and Zenit’s only previous encounter in the knockout stages of the Champions League saw the Portuguese club progress, it was in the last 16 of the tournament back in 2011/12 (4-3 on aggregate).
- However, Zenit have won three of their four Champions League games against Benfica, including their two encounters in the group stages in 2014/15.
- Zenit are the only Russian team to have beaten Benfica at the Estadio Da Luz in European competition, it was in September 2014 (2-0).
- Zenit have won their last three away games against Portuguese clubs in European competition, qualifiers included.
Team news:
Benfica: Injured – Luisao, Rebocho, Nuno Santos, Fejsa, Lisandro Lopez.
Zenit: Injured – Fayzulin, Malafeev, Smolnikov, Ryazantsev.
Venue: Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal
Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
