Standard Liege vs. Benfica 11/12/20

Stade Maurice Dufrasne is the venue as Standard Liege and Benfica meet in the ultimate game of the UEFA Europa League group stage.

Except for a 2-1 comeback victory over Lech Poznan on Matchday 5, Standard Liege have lost their remaining five Europa League group-stage matches, conceding over 1.5 goals on each occasion. Curiously, four of their five home Europa League goals scored/conceded this season have come beyond the 60th minute. However, the hosts have suffered just one defeat in their last 17 home fixtures across major European competitions (W11, D5), with that loss coming at the hands of Rangers in this season’s group-stage curtain-raiser. In fact, that failure against Rangers has been Standard’s only defeat in 13 home matches in all competitions this season (W6, D6, L1). Furthermore, ‘Les Rouches’ have not lost any of their five previous European home meetings with Portuguese visitors (W3, D2).

Meanwhile, a 4-0 home victory over Lech Poznan on Matchday 5 gave ‘As Agias’ a fifth consecutive match without a loss in the Europa League (W3, D2), with the visitors already securing a berth in the competition’s knock-out stage. Free-scoring Benfica have scored over 1.5 goals per game in each of their five fixtures in the Europa League group stage this season, accruing a total of 16. Interestingly, four of Benfica’s six goals scored away from home in Europe this term have come on or beyond the 60-minute mark. But, it’s also worth noting that Jorge Jesus’ men have failed to keep a clean sheet in 20 consecutive European fixtures on the road, Champions League included. Additionally, they have conceded 2+ match goals in three of their last five away games across all competitions.