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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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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
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2Benfica24182456183856
3Porto25155549202950
4Braga25155541221950
5Santa ClaraSanta Clara2512492625140
6Vitoria de GuimaraesGuimaraes2591153427738
7Casa Pia2510693132-136
8Estoril PraiaEstoril259883340-735
9FamalicaoFamalicao2581072826234
10Rio AveRio Ave2578102740-1329
11MoreirenseMoreirense2577113037-728
12AroucaArouca2577112438-1428
13Nacional2575132335-1226
14Gil Vicente2458112436-1223
15Estrela Amadora2558122136-1523
16AVS25411102035-1523
17SC FarenseFarense2538141736-1917
18BoavistaBoavista2536161642-2615


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