Summary: Maccabi Haifa - MS.
Ashdod 1:3 (Sport1)
Benfica has already secured its place in the round of 16 of the Champions League, but the Eagles really don't want to record their first loss of the season in all formats at the stadium in Haifa.
Moreover, in the media, the Portuguese are convinced that coach Roger Schmidt is coming to tonight's game against Maccabi Haifa (Wednesday, 22:00) with the aim of winning, in the hope that at the same time there will be a stumble by Paris Saint-Germain against Juventus that will give his team first place at home and a more favorable draw in the next stage , at least on paper.
After Benfica beat Juventus in the previous round and was eliminated from the Champions League, many in Maccabi Haifa believed that for them this was excellent news because the Portuguese might allow themselves to underestimate the visit to Israel and thus Maccabi Haifa might be able to get out of the difficult house to which they were drawn in third place and with the ticket that would guarantee them a continuation of the European season in the Europa League.
However, it seems that the expected changes in the lineup in Nifka will not be as substantial as the Greens first thought, for them, as was the case in the previous games, they also come with the goal of playing positive football and scoring points.
As you know, since Benfica and Paris Saint-Germain were separated twice in a draw, in case of equal points between them at the top, the one with the better goal difference will finish.
On the eve of the closing round of the group stage, they are tied with 11 points each, but the French champions have a significant advantage because they are +8 in goal difference, double that of Benfica.
Enso Fernandez, who is suspended for the first time this season, will not take part in the Benfica game, until now he has participated in all the team's games in all formats, but the one who may play for the first time this season is the defender Lucas Verissimo, a player of the Brazilian national team until he was injured in November last year.
Varissimo recently returned to the field and managed to make two appearances in Benfica's reserve team, so his first official appearance in Carmel is expected since the serious injury a year ago.
Roger Schmidt may start with him today or at least allow him to come off the bench.
Benfica arrived in Israel last night under heavy security and according to the local media four fans were waiting for the team at the hotel in Carmel - three from Braga and one from Luxembourg.
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