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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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2Porto1411123392434
3Benfica1310213282432
4Santa ClaraSanta Clara149051613327
5Braga147432516925
6Vitoria de GuimaraesGuimaraes146441814422
7MoreirenseMoreirense146261919020
8FamalicaoFamalicao144731715219
9Casa Pia144551317-417
10Gil Vicente144461724-716
11Rio AveRio Ave144461525-1016
12Estoril PraiaEstoril143561221-914
13Nacional13337817-912
14AVS142661122-1112
15Estrela Amadora143381224-1212
16BoavistaBoavista142571019-911
17AroucaArouca14329823-1511
18SC FarenseFarense14239720-139


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