On Thursday evening, the remaining 16 teams in the Europa League fight for the quarter-finals. The return leg between SL Benfica Lisbon and GNK Dinamo Zagreb will rise in the Estadio da Luz. The Croatian champions won the first leg 1-0 last week. Now the Eagles from Lisbon want to return the first defeat under the new coach Bruno Lage and of course move into the round of the last eight.
Today’s Betting Tips Benfica Lisbon vs Dinamo Zagreb
The GNK Dinamo Zagreb has earned a decent position from the first leg. The Croatian record champion but also urgently needed. So far, Zagreb had to play six times in European Cup games in Portugal and conceded in all six games defeat without a goal. Who in the second leg Benfica Lisbon vs. Dinamo Zagreb looks to the odds, must fear a continuation of this series. The home side will go into the game as the clear favorite of bookmakers. However, the betting base does not stipulate any outcome in their preliminary report. Instead, the betting experts count on at least one goal on each side and bet on Benfica Lisbon vs. Dinamo Zagrebin the second leg their tip on “both teams to score“.
Benfica Lisbon – Statistics & Current Form
Portuguese champions Benfica Lisbon were only fourth in the league after losing 2-0 at Portimonense SC on the second. The back of the Eagles in 1st place and the FC Porto was seven points. After that, coach Rui Vitoria was dismissed. As a successor until the end of the season, the coach of the B-team Bruno Lage was committed. Then it went uphill steeply for the club. Benfica won in the NOS league the first nine games under the new coach all. This series came to an end on Monday, when Lisbon had to settle for home in the city duel against Belenenses with a 2-2. The draw was favored by a bad blunder by Benfica keeper Odisseas Vlachodimos at the score of 2: 0. Nevertheless, the record champions with the great series under Coach Lage has taken over the league standings in the league NOS. Benfica and Porto now have the same number of points after the 25th matchday.
With 68 goals, the Eagles but by far the best offensive in the league. Top scorer is the ex-Frankfurt Haris Seferovic with 15 goals this season. With 31 points from 13 games, Lisbon are also the best away team in the Portuguese Premier League. In 16 competitive games under coach situation, there were only two defeats for Benfica: At home in the League Cup against Porto and now in the Europa League first knockout round first leg in Zagreb. After four championship titles in a row, the Eagles had in the preseason only runner-up. Nevertheless, Benfica was allowed to start this season in the Champions Leauge first, but was there in the group E behind Bayern and Ajax only third. Thus, it continued for the men of Coach Lage in the Europa League. In the second round Benfica eliminated the Turkish champions Galatasaray Istanbul. Against Dinamo, the Eagles have to do without top scorer Seferovic. Also Ebuehi, Jardel, Conti, Fejsa and Salvio are missing injured. However, in the upcoming match between Benfica and Dinamo Zagreb, it is likely that Benfica will leave the pitch as the winners.
Expected formation of Benfica Lisbon:
➙ Vlachodimos – Almeida, Dias, Ferro, Grimaldo – Pizzi, Luis, Fernandes, Cervi – Felix, Jonas
Last matches of Benfica Lisbon:
⚽ 11.03.2019 – Benfica Lisbon vs. Belenenses Lisbon 2: 2 (Primeira Liga)
⚽ 07.03.2019 – Dinamo Zagreb Vs. Benfica Lisbon 1: 0 (Europa League)
⚽ 02.03.2019 – Porto vs Benfica Lisbon 1: 2 (Primeira Liga)
⚽ 25.02.2019 – Benfica Lisbon vs GD Chaves 4: 0 (Primeira League)
⚽ 21.02.2019 – Benfica Lisbon vs. Galatasaray 0: 0 (Europa League)
Dinamo Zagreb – Statistics & Current Form
Dinamo Zagreb is again the measure of all things in the first Croatian league this year. After 24 games, the club from the capital has 17 points ahead of the first pursuers Rijeka. Thus, everything speaks for the 20th championship in the HNL. In the last 13 years, the title has only once not gone to Dinamo (2016/17 to Rijeka). Since Zagreb had missed the participation in the Champions League group stage in the playoffs against the Young Boys Bern, the Croatian record champions ran in the Europa League. Here, the men of coach Nenad Bjelica could survive group D unbeaten with four wins and two draws.
Thus, Zagreb had survived the first time a group stage in the European Cup in the 14th attempt. In the second round Dinamo prevailed after a 1: 2 defeat in Pilsen with a 3-0 home win. With the defeat at Viktoria Pilsen went for the dark blue a series of eight European Cup games without defeat to an end. There had been three wins and five draws here. On Sunday, the league leaders won the dress rehearsal for the Europa League 3-1 at home against Rijeka. Zagreb are waiting for their first quarter-final appearance since the 1969/70 season. At that time, the Croats made it to the quarter-finals at the European Cup Winners’ Cup, but failed there at FC Schalke. The guests have to give up the suspended Marin Leovac and Ivan Sunjic. Against Benfica Lisbon, Dinamo Zagreb is, according to the bookmakers, unsurprisingly the clear outsider for a tip to victory in the upcoming game.
Expected formation of Dinamo Zagreb:
➙ Livakovic – Stojanovic, Théophile-Catherine, Dilaver, Rrahmani – Ademi – Kadzior, Olmo, Gojak, Orsic – Petkovic
Last matches of Dinamo Zagreb:
⚽ 10.03.2019 – Dinamo Zagreb Vs. HNK Rijeka 3: 1 (1st HNL)
⚽ 07.03.2019 – Dinamo Zagreb Vs. Benfica Lisbon 1: 0 (Europa League)
⚽ 02.03.2019 – Lokomotiva Zagreb vs. Dinamo Zagreb 1: 1 (1st HNL)
⚽ 24.02.2019 – Dinamo Zagreb vs. Dinamo Zagreb NK Osijek 3: 0 (1st HNL)
⚽ 21.02.2019 – Dinamo Zagreb Vs. Viktoria Pilsen 3: 0 (Europa League)
Benfica Lisbon vs Dinamo Zagreb Direct Comparison & Stats Highlights
Both teams have already met four times. The 1-0 in the first leg was the first victory for Zagreb in direct duel. Previously, there had been a draw and two wins for Benfica. Petkovic’s 38th-minute penalty gave Dinamo his first goal against Lisbon. For Benfica it was the first defeat in six games against Croatian teams. There are also three wins and two draws. Zagreb have played twelve times against teams from Portugal. The record here is four wins, one draw and seven defeats. In the first leg Zagreb was behind the ball with eleven men and left Benfica no room. In addition, the hosts took over the command from the 20th minute and rewarded themselves with the lead. Also in the second round there was rarely a come through for the eagles from Lisbon. With half-baked actions the guests came to no clear chance.
Benfica Lisbon vs Dinamo Zagreb Football Betting Tips and Predictions
In the first leg, the Portuguese have underestimated the Zagreb probably something. Now a hard piece of work is waiting for the men of coach Lage. Even in the first leg, the Portuguese could not pull their game against the fighting and defensively strong Croats. Benfica reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League for the fifth time. Often there was no team in the EL round of the last 16. So far, the Eagles always reached the next round. In addition, the red-whites are still unbeaten in 20 Europa League home games. There were 17 wins and three draws here. In four out of 22 European Cup matches duels Zagreb were still eliminated after winning the first leg at home. In two of these four cases, they met opponents from Portugal (against Sporting and Porto).
Key facts – Benfica Lisbon vs Dinamo Zagreb tips
➙ In 20 Europa League home games Benfica won 17 wins and 3 draws
➙ Zagreb has conceded only one defeat in the last 15 competitive matches
➙ In six European games in Portugal Dinamo won yet a point and scored no goal
Qualitatively, the eagles are certainly superior to the Croats. The great home game record in the Europa League speaks for Benfica. But the big threat to the hosts lies in the away goal of Dinamo. Then Lisbon needs three goals. Nevertheless, we were in the second leg Benfica vs. Lisbon. Dinamo Zagreb decide against a prediction on the game outcome. Guests will certainly put everything on the away goals card – and we trust them. That Lisbon also hits is out of the question for us. The 0: 1 in Zagreb was the first time for Benfica since 29 competitive games where they had not been able to meet. Thus, we set in the duel Benfica Lisbon vs Dinamo Zagreb our tip on “both teams to score“.
If you want to bet on the outcome of the Europa League second leg, we can compare it to the duel Benfica vs. Lisbon. Dinamo Zagreb a prediction on “Victory Benfica” to heart. It certainly speaks most for a home win of extremely strong home side hosts. Whether this will be enough to progress at the end remains exciting. Buchmacher Interwetten won the match Benfica Lisbon vs Dinamo Zagreb betting odds of 1.46 for a win of Lisbon.
Betting Tips: Both teams to score/ Yes
Odds: 2.05
