Berlin beckons again for Benfica

Hertha BSC Berlin will play host to a Portuguese club for the second European game in succession when last-32 opponents SL Benfica visit the Olympiastadion.

Previous meetings
• Hertha, who overcame Sporting Clube de Portugal on Matchday 6, had never met Benfica until last season's UEFA Cup group stage last season, when the teams drew 1-1 at the Olympiastadion. Hertha were coached by Lucien Favre while Quique Sánchez Flores was in charge at Benfica.

• The teams for that game on 23 October 2008 were:
Hertha: Drobný, Chahed, Friedrich (Kaká 53), Šimunić, Stein (Pantelić 66), Lustenberger, Dardai (Kačar 46), Cícero, Nicu, Raffael, Voronin.
Benfica: Quim, Maxi Pereira, Luisão, Sidnei, Jorge Ribeiro, Di María, Katsouranis (Martins 66), Binya, Reyes (Urreta 72), Nuno Gomes, Óscar Cardozo (Suazo 46).

Match background
• Hertha have played seven games against Portuguese opposition, winning two, drawing one and losing four. In Berlin their record is W2 D1 L1.

• Benfica have played 30 games against Bundesliga opposition (W7 D11 L12) but have never won in Germany, where their record reads W0 D5 L11.

• Hertha last featured in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup in 2005/06 when they were knocked out by FC Rapid Bucureşti, losing 1-0 at home and 2-0 in Romania.

• They were knocked out of the UEFA Cup fourth round by Boavista FC in 2002/03.

• Eliminated from the 2004/05 and 2006/07 rounds of 32 by PFC CSKA Moskva and FC Dinamo Bucureşti, it was third time lucky for Benfica in 2007/08 when they progressed at the expense of 1. FC Nürnberg.

• Benfica have won their last two European away fixtures, triumphing at FC BATE Borisov (2-1) and Everton (2-0) in the group stage.

Team facts
• Hertha will look to complete a double over the big Lisbon clubs having beaten Sporting 1-0 in their final UEFA Europa League group stage game in December.

• Gojko Kačar's 70th-minute goal at the Olympiastadion confirmed their place in the round of 32.

• Arne Friedrich was in the Germany team that defeated a Portugal side including Nuno Gomes in the UEFA EURO 2008 quarter-finals. Jorge Ribeiro was on the bench for Portugal.

• The tie concludes in Lisbon on 23 February with the winners to face either FC København and Olympique de Marseille in the round of 16 on 11 and 18 March, playing the first leg at home.

Hertha
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: Arne Friedrich
Players added to squad: Fanis Gekas, Levan Kobiashvili, Timo Ochs
Players removed from squad: Cesar, Kaká

Benfica
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: Ramires
Players added to squad: Éder Luís, Alan Kardec, Airton
Players removed from squad: José Shaffer, Keirrison, Luís Filipe, Nélson Oliveira