Europa League
2013-02-21 - Benfica vs Bayer Leverkusen
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: European Europa League
Thursday 21 February 2013 - Kick Off 8:05pm
This game is live on TV
Benfica
With a 1-0 lead from Germany, Benfica are confident they can progress to the last-16 in front of their own fans this time. Benfica have a lot of experience in the Champions League and Europa League over the last few seasons and will call on all of that to make sure they complete the job against Bayer Leverkusen.
The side reached the Quarter Final of the Champions League last season and were Semi Finalists in the Europa League in 2011 and they will believe they can have a deep run in this competition after going out of the elite European competition before Christmas. Benfica have only lost 2 of their last 14 games in Europe at the Stadium of Light while they have won 4 of their last 6 here in the Champions League and 11 of their last 12 at home in the Europa League.
Benfica are unbeaten in their last 24 games in all competitions, while they have won 6 of their last 7 games. Since a 0-2 loss to Barcelona here in the Champions League, Benfica are unbeaten in 11 games at the Stadium of Light of which they have won 10.
Bayer Leverkusen
It was a disappointing night for Bayer Leverkusen as they lost 0-1 at home in the first leg of this competition. That makes the Germans big underdogs to progress through to the last-16 of the Europa League, but they will use the experience in Europe to help them in the Bundesliga and perhaps earn a place in the Champions League for next season.
The defeat in the first leg was the first time Bayer Leverkusen had conceded a goal at home in the Europa League this season and also ended their unbeaten home run. Bayer Leverkusen did reach the last-16 of this competition a couple of seasons ago thanks to a 0-4 win at Metalist and Leverkusen have won 4 of their last 6 away games in the competition.
Leverkusen had been on a 4 game run without winning a game, but they snapped that with a 2-1 win over Augsburg last weekend. They have failed to win any of their last 4 away games in all competitions and have conceded 9 goals in that run while losing 2 of those games. In fact, Leverkusen have won just 2 of their last 8 away games in all competitions.
Head to Head
This will be the second time that Benfica host Bayer Leverkusen in Lisbon, although the last time they met here was back in the 1993/94 season.
On that occasion, the sides drew 1-1 in Lisbon.
Prediction
Benfica are the correct favourites in this game as they are expected to play a much stronger team than they did in the first leg in Germany last week. The home side score plenty of goals here, but Bayer Leverkusen shouldn't be underestimated either.
I think this is a game that could see a few goals scored rather than the 0-1 scoreline the first leg ended with and I think it might be worth a shot backing Benfica to win in a high-scoring game at 2.88 being offered by Ladbrokes.
The Pick :
Benfica 3-1 Bayer Leverkusen
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back Benfica to win and over 2.5 goals scored in match (The Total Result) @ 2.88 (Ladbrokes)
