Benfica braced for Milan contest

SL Benfica need to find their best form against reigning European champions AC Milan on Matchday 5 if they are to avoid a repeat of last season's failure to progress from the UEFA Champions League group stage.

• José Antonio Camacho's team go into their penultimate Group D fixture at the Estádio da Luz three points adrift of FC Shakhtar Donetsk and Celtic FC at the foot of the standings. A victory against Milan will keep them in contention until Matchday 6 but a draw will also suffice if the Celtic-Shakhtar match in Glasgow finishes all-square.

• It does not help the hosts that in Milan they face opponents who can book their place in the knockout rounds with the right result in Lisbon. Carlo Ancelotti's men will qualify with a victory, and a draw will also be enough for the Rossoneri if there is a winner in the game at Celtic Park.

• Milan beat Benfica 2-1 when the teams met at San Siro on Matchday 1. Goals from Andrea Pirlo (nine minutes) and Filippo Inzaghi (24) put Milan in control before Nuno Gomes got a consolation in added time.

• Benfica's hopes dipped further when they went down 1-0 to Shakhtar at the Estádio da Luz on Matchday 2. Although they then revived their prospects with a 1-0 home success against Celtic, Óscar Cardozo claiming the only goal in the 87th minute, defeat by an identical scoreline at Celtic Park on Matchday 4 has left them with a small mountain to climb.

• Milan also lost at Celtic, going down 2-1 to a last-gasp Scott McDonald strike after Kaká's spot-kick had cancelled out Stephen McManus's opener for the Scottish champions. The holders responded to that setback in style, taking six points off Shakhtar on Matchdays 3 and 4.

• Milan owed their 4-1 home victory against Shakhtar on 24 October to two goals apiece from Alberto Gilardino and Clarence Seedorf. They then prevailed 3-0 in Donetsk thanks to second-half efforts from Filippo Inzaghi (2) and Kaká.

• Benfica might take heart from the fact other teams have suffered three defeats in the UEFA Champions League group stage yet still advanced in the competition. Celtic (2006/07), Werder Bremen (2005/06), FC Lokomotiv Moskva, Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Newcastle United FC (2002/03), Arsenal FC (2001/02), Olympique Lyonnais (2000/01), Manchester United FC and Rosenborg BK (1996/97), and Legia Warszawa (1995/96) all achieved the feat.

• Benfica's home record against Italian sides in UEFA club competition is four wins, three draws and three defeats. Their most recent visitors from Serie A were Milan's city rivals FC Internazionale Milano with whom they drew 0-0 in the UEFA Cup fourth round first leg in 2003/2004, before succumbing 4-3 in the return.

• Milan's one previous visit to Benfica was in the 1994/95 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals when a goalless draw secured a 2-0 aggregate success for the Rossoneri. Paolo Maldini featured for Milan in that tie.

• Benfica have unhappy memories of facing Milan in the European Champion Clubs' Cup, having lost to them in the final in both 1963 and 1990.

• The Rossoneri collected their first European crown by coming from behind to beat Benfica 2-1 in the 1963 final through two goals from José Altafini. Frank Rijkaard scored the only goal of the 1990 final in a match where Ancelotti and Maldini both played. It was also the last time a team won back-to-back European Cups.

• Rui Costa spent five years with Milan from 2001 to 2006 and won the UEFA Champions League with the club in 2003.

• Nuno Gomes's first spell with Benfica ended in 2000 when he departed for Italy and a two-season stint at ACF Fiorentina. He subsequently returned to Benfica in summer 2002.