Beşiktaş v Benfica: line-ups, where to watch, form guide
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Article summary
"We are doing good things," Beşiktaş coach Şenol Güneş said, with the Black Eagles hoping to ride a positive wave into the round of 16 as they welcome Benfica.
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Article body
- Şenol Güneş asks home side for "beautiful football and a good result"
- If Beşiktaş win and Napoli do not, Beşiktaş progress from Group B
- If Benfica take three points, they are through
- Reverse fixture ended 1-1, Talisca netting 93rd-minute Beşiktaş free-kick
- Benfica have won seven of their last eight games, drawing the other
Possible line-ups
Beşiktaş: Fabri; Gönül, Marcelo, Tošić, Beck; Arslan, Hutchinson; Quaresma, Özyakup, Adriano; Aboubakar.
Out: Erkin (Achilles), Talisca (foot), Rhodolfo (knee)
Misses next match if booked: Adriano, Caner Erkin
Benfica: Ederson; Eliseu, Lindelöf, Luisão, Nélson Semedo; Samaris, Pizzi, Cervi, Salvio; Gonçalo Guedes, Mitroglou.
Out:Grimaldo (stomach), André Horta (thigh), Jonas (ankle)
Doubtful: Fejsa (ankle)
Misses next match if booked: Samaris
Where to watch
Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here
Şenol Güneş, Beşiktaş coach
Our aim is the same as ever: beautiful football and a good result. After four games, we have yet to be outclassed by any of our Champions League opponents.
We are doing good things both in the league and in the UEFA Champions League. Benfica, just like Napoli, are a side that defend well and use the flanks very well. They are a side that respond very quickly when they lose the ball. We need to pick a team that can handle the pressure of this game.
Rui Vitória, Benfica coach
We are up against an impressive side but we are focused only on progressing from this group. Benfica are a great club who have always played in big atmospheres, in front of more than 50,000, so we are used to it. It will be a good experience playing here.
We have played four 'finals' already and now we have two left. It will be a tough game. Beşiktaş have some quality players, well known across the world, but my side will give their all.
Weekend results
Adanaspor 1-2 Beşiktaş (Gueye 56pen; Aboubakar 11, Cenk Tosun 17pen)
Beşiktaş are 16 games unbeaten – in regulation time – and have won five of their last six fixtures in the Turkish Super League.
Benfica 6-0 Marítimo (Cervi 2, Pizzi 38, Mitroglou 43 53, Raúl Jiménez 69pen, Guedes 88)
Benfica have lost only one of their last 26 matches after this comfortable victory against ten-man Marítimo in the Portuguese Cup round of 32.
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)
Beşiktaş: WWDDWW
Benfica: WDWWWW
Reporter's view: Çetin Cem Yılmaz (@UEFAcomCetinCY)
The two Eagles meet again, but this time qualification and elimination are at stake. Beşiktaş took the lead in their last two Group B home games only to draw both 1-1, a result they could do with avoiding this time. Playmaker Oğuzhan Özyakup should be back for the Black Eagles, who will be hoping Ricardo Quaresma can continue his good run (one goal and two assists in this section). However, Şenol Güneş's main concern will be a patched-together back four.
Did you know?
Beşiktaş lost their first three home fixtures against visitors from Portugal before drawing 1-1 with Sporting CP in last season's UEFA Europa League group stage. Read more in our extensive match background.