Prediction: Toulouse vs Benfica
Verdict: Benfica win
Best Odds: 1/1
Bookmaker: Luckster
Looking to finish off the job and punch their Europa League knockout stage ticket on Thursday evening, Benfica will travel over to France when they meet Toulouse.
Toulouse
Starting with the hosts, eventually falling to a first-leg 2-1 loss when they travelled to Lisbon last week, Toulouse have a real uphill battle on their hands here. However, springing what was a real domestic upset over the weekend as they snatched a 2-1 victory away at French giants Monaco, Les Violets will be desperate to use that display as a platform to build on. Nevertheless, mustering just a pair of wins from any of their previous six appearances across all competitions, Carles Martinez Novellās men still find themselves at the heart of a Ligue 1 relegation scrap in 2024. Coming under a huge amount of scrutiny and failing to find any kind of stability, a huge part of Toulouse has been their extended issues on home soil. In fact, Novellās side have lost their previous three home fixtures by an aggregate score of 6-2.
Team News
Both still dealing with respective injury issues, the duo of Zakaria Aboukhlal and Denis Genreau will not feature on Thursday evening. While Kevin Keben might have returned to Novellās squad over the weekend, the 20-year-old will have to settle for another spot on the bench here.
However, shown a first-leg red card out in Portugal last week, Toulouse will be without the suspended Christian Mawissa Elebi. Notching four Europa League group stage goals last year, Dutch international Thijs Dallinga will spearhead Novellās charge in midweek.
Benfica
As for the visitors, claiming a first-leg advantage in Lisbon last week as they snatched that 2-1 victory, Benfica certainly find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high. Keeping up their purple patch over the weekend as they stormed their way to a routine 6-1 romp at home against Vizela, Roger Schmidtās men have their sights firmly set on mounting a genuine Europa League charge in 2024. Remarkably suffering just a single defeat from any of their previous 20 appearances across all competitions ā a run that stems all the way back to November 8th ā the Eagles have also impressed with their clinical performances in the final third. Opening February with a 3-0 victory against Gil Vicente, Benfica have now notched at least a pair of goals in all bar one of their last 12 of their previous 13 showdowns.
Team News
Still dealing with an extended muscle injury and not making a single appearance across any competition since the end of October, Benfica will once again be without the services of Juan Bernat here. However, aside from the former PSG star, Thursdayās guests have reported a clean bill of health ahead of their trip to France.
Bagging a stellar first-leg brace against Toulouse last week, Argentina superstar Angel Di Maria will certainly be handed a full recall in midweek. Former Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi will once again partner Tomas Araujo at the back.
Key Factors to Consider
When Toulouse and Benfica met for their first-leg clash last week, the Portuguese giants picked up a 2-1 victory on home soil.
The Eagles have suffered just a single defeat from any of their previous 12 showdowns outside of Lisbon.
Toulouse have lost all of their previous three appearances in front of their own supporters by an aggregate score of 6-2.
Likewise, Thursdayās hosts have also won just one of their last nine contests at the Stadium de Toulouse.
Benfica have registered 11 goals in their previous four away fixtures.
Conclusion
Picking up what was a deserved first-leg advantage in Lisbon last week, Benfica will simply be looking to avoid a potential banana skin here. Travelling to France with a slender 2-1 lead, the Portuguese giants will certainly be looking to cash in on a Toulouse side that have gained a reputation for their extended issues on home soil. Remarkably mustering just a single victory from any of their previous nine showdowns in front of their own supporters, we are backing Benfica to extend on their Europa League adventure on Thursday evening.
Verdict: Benfica win
Best Odds: 1/1
Bookmaker: Luckster
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