Benfica vs Eintracht Frankfurt 12/04/19

12 April 2019

Benfica and Eintracht Frankfurt go head-to-head for the first leg of their Europa League quarter-finals tie as the hosts hope to extend their eight-game unbeaten run at the Estádio da Luz (W6, D2).

Although Benfica’s home supremacy this term is out of the question, the Portuguese giants have struggled to live up to expectations in Europe so far. Just two triumphs in five international home games (W2, D2, L1) have been accompanied by massive difficulties in the final third that has seen them score one goal or less on four occasions. The one thing Bruno Lage can be happy about is Benfica’s defensive performance, as they’ve preserved a clean slate in three of five European home clashes, allowing two goals per match only once across those games. Interestingly, seven of Águias’ ten European fixtures have featured under 2.5 goals, with Benfica winning two of three that have produced three or more goals.

The visitors, on the other hand, enter this meeting full of confidence considering they’ve secured wins in all five of their previous competitive outings, beating their rivals to nil four times during the run. What’s more, Die Adler are unbeaten in their last 15 games across all competitions (W9, D6) with seven of nine of their victories in that period featuring over 2.5 goals. Interestingly, Adi Hütter’s men have pulled off four wins on five international road trips this term (W4, D1), with four of those clashes producing over 2.5 goals with both teams finding the back of the net. Notably improved at the back, the Bundesliga giants have kept four straight clean sheets on the road before conceding a goal in 2-1 win over Schalke 04.