While many a first-leg result in the sixteenth final of the Europa League amounted to a preliminary decision, Benfica Lisbon and Shakhtar Donetsk – everyone knows this forecast from the close 2-1 home win of Hirnyky – everything is still open. Although the Encarnados were unable to stop their recent downward trend internationally, they scored the all-important away goal.
Already a 1-0 home win in this second leg is enough for the eagles to turn the game and recommend themselves for a place among the best 16 teams in this competition. It is easy to find out which bookmakers at Benfica Lisbon against Shakhtar Donetsk offer the best odds for this in the betting comparison.
So a lot is still possible in this game, which is why a tip in Benfica Lisbon against Shakhtar Donetsk should also take into account as many eventualities as possible.
In addition to the following analyzes, in which we derive, substantiate and substantiate this assessment, in the Europa League betting tips category you can also find exclusive tips and forecasts for the other return games from the sixteenth final.
Benfica Lisbon:
The Portuguese record champions Benfica Lisbon are counting in this second leg, but still everything is international and national for Bruno Lage’s men. Especially also because the turnaround was finally initiated on Monday evening.
In the 1-0 away win against Gil Vicente, the Águias not only succeeded in the dress rehearsal for the second leg against the Kroty, but also scored for the first time after two defeats in a row in the Primeira Liga, defending the lead against the leader just one point behind them lurking FC Porto.
Even now, a 1-0 would be enough to eradicate the defeat from the first leg in Kharkiv and still solve the ticket for the round of 16 through the away goals regulation. At Benfica Lisbon against Shakhtar Donetsk, the odds of the bookmakers for the progress of the Portuguese record champions are also good in terms of history.
Five times before, the Encarnados have so far taken part in the sixteen-finals of the Europa League and in all five cases this round was not the end. The eagles always remained in the competition instead.
One reason for this can be found above all in the Europa League balance sheets of “O Glorioso”. While the Champions League did not go all that well in the current preliminary round, even though two of the three home games could still be won, there is not a single defeat in the second most important European competition for club teams in the last 22 home games (19 wins, three draws).
In the knockout rounds of the Europa League alone, the Encarnados won 15 of their 18 games at the Estádio da Luz (three draws). This gives hope that the game can still be turned.
Shakhtar Donetsk:
Shakhtar Donetsk has often been doomed by the fact that the winter break in Ukraine always extends particularly long into the new year. The Hirnyky had to play the first leg against the Encarnados once again under the adverse conditions of not having played a competitive game since December 14, 2019.
With the 2-1 home win from Kharkiv in their luggage, the Kroty are now not only satisfied with every win and every draw in the Estádio da Luz, but also every away defeat with a goal difference in which the men of Luís Castro score two goals of their own.
Of course, that sounds easier said than done at first. What clearly plays into the cards of the Ukrainian national champions in this second leg is the fact that the season in the Premjer-Liha has started again. On Sunday, the Hirnyky celebrated a 1-0 victory over fourth-placed Desna Chernihiv, which was able to seamlessly build on the results of the first half of the season.
Nationally, the Kroty have the undisputed championship lead with 17 wins and two draws from the previous 19 league games and are 14 points ahead of the chasing team Dynamo Kiev. In particular, the only nine goals conceded by national teams also give courage that an orderly defensive performance in Portugal could be the key to success.
Donetsk must of course not ignore the offensive. Without an away goal, the first leg result is shaky, which is why Benfica Lisbon against Shakhtar Donetsk have a tip on “Both teams meet: Yes” is very close.
That they can also achieve good results away from home in the Europa League underlines their away record in this competition. The Kroty competed 16 times in the distance and with only four defeats and a draw they were able to win eleven of these matches. The Encarnados should be warned accordingly.
