Benfica vs Shakhtar Donetsk Betting Tip Draw – 27th February 2020

Shakhtar can hold out in Lisbon

Taison /Shakhtar Donetsk ©imago images / Ukrinform 27.02.2020

PortugalBenfica vs Shakhtar DonetskUkraine
27th February 2000hrs
Football – Europe – Europa League
Pick Draw
Bookmaker Bet365
Odds: 11/4 odds taken 1851 GMT, Tuesday 25th February

Benfica, who are unbeaten at home in the UEFA Europa League have to try and turn this round of 32 tie around. After a 2-1 loss in Kharkiv, the pressure is on the Eagles to deliver back in Lisbon. This is the only tie that features two teams from this season’s Champions League group stage.

Bet at Bet365

 

Can Benfica find the win?

It is a 2-1 deficit that Benfica has to make up on home soil in this tie. The positive from their defeat is that they did get a goal on the board. Pizzi had drawn the Eagles level in the second half from the penalty spot before Shakhtar struck for a second time.

That was the first-ever round of 32 defeat suffered by Benfica. It was their eleventh such fixture. The home form of Benfica against a team from Ukraine is W4 L2. The most recent of those was a 1-0 win over Dynamo Kyiv in the 2016/17 Champions League.

All four of Benfica’s home wins over Ukranian visitors have been with a clean sheet, so there’s a chunky trend to consider. 35 times Benfica have lost the first leg away from home in a UEFA tie. On 12 of those occasions, they have done enough back at home to win through.

Our betting prediction:
1-1 Correct Score
6/1

Bet at Betway

(odds taken 1851 GMT, Tuesday 25th February)

They actually did it last season against Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League round of sixteen, having lost 1-0 in Croatia. The only previous meeting between the two clubs before this season was in the group stage of the 2007 Champions League. They traded away wins.

The Eagles have not lost any of their last 22 Europa League home games (including qualifying) and of those 22, they have won 19. Specifically, in the knockout stage of the Europa League, Benfica are W15 D3 in Lisbon.

 

Shakhtar with a lead to defend

Alan Patrick opened the scoring in the first leg for Shakhtar, with Vikor Kovalenko popping up with the winner for them. Even though they are defending their lead away from home, they do have a good record in Portugal.

They have taken a W5 D1 L3 record from their previous visits there. The most recent of those was in the 2016/17 Europa League when they took a 4-2 win at Braga.

In two-legged ties against Protugsue opposition in UEFA competition, the Ukrainians are W2 L1. Will the Ukraine champions be able to play this through? Their one win in their Champions League group stage this season happened away from home.

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That was a 2-1 win at Atalanta that the Pitmen took. They have lost just one of their last six European fixtures now and in that sequence, there was a 1-1 draw for them at Manchester City in the Champions League group stage.

Shakhtar have won all but five of 20 UEFA ties after having won the first leg at home. They have won their last two such occasions, however. Overall they hold a superb W11 D1 L4 record away from home in the Europa League.

 

Benfica vs Shakhtar Donetsk Betting Advice

This is not a cut and dry looking scenario for Benfica. Both teams had their chances in the first leg and there was enough from that to suggest that the Pitmen can go and hold out to qualify. It’s a dicey situation as a 1-0 loss would send them packing.

 

Key Facts – Benfica vs Shakhtar Donetsk Betting Tip

  • Benfica are unbeaten at home in the Europa League
  • Benfica are W 4 L2 at home against teams from Ukraine
  • Shakhtar Donetsk lead 2-1 in the tie

 

However, Shakhtar do have a decent record in Portugal and overall away from home in the Europa League. This isn’t about them winning the game, but the visiting Pitmen look good enough to hold out for a draw in Lisbon

 

The best betting odds for Benfica vs Shakhtar Donetsk

Benfica to win: 5/6 at Bet365
Draw: 11/4 at Bet365
Shakhtar Donetsk: 16/5 at Bet365