FULL TIME. Dinamo Zagreb-SL Benfica

Dinamo Zagreb-Benfica, a match from the 1st leg of the last 16 of the Europa League at the Maksimir Stadium, in Croatia. Final score: 1-0. Commentary of the encounter on the MATCH CENTER of the Official Website.

PRE-MATCH

Benfica's starting XI: Odysseas; Corchia, Rúben Dias, Ferro and Grimaldo; Florentino, Gabriel, Gedson and Krovinovic; João Félix and Seferovic.

Substitutes: Svilar, Yuri Ribeiro, Samaris, Cervi, Zivkovic, Rafa and Jota.

They have locked horns three times in the UEFA competitions

Benfica and Dínamo Zagreb have already met in three occasions in the European competitions and the balance is positive for the eagles (two wins and one draw). The most recent clash happened in the 2004/05 season (November 25, 2004) for the UEFA Cup/Europa League: coached by Giovanni Trapatonni, the reds won by 2-0. Sokota and Simão Sabrosa were the goal scorers.

In the 1980/81 season, the teams faced two times in the Cup Winner's Cup. A scoreless draw in Croatia and a victory from the eagles in Lisbon (2-0), on October 1, 1980. Nené and César scored the strikes from the team led by Lajos Baróti.

Benfica's squad list

Goalkeepers: Ivan Zlobin, Odysseas and Mile Svilar;

Defenders: Rúben Dias, Grimaldo, Yuri Ribeiro, Sébastien Corchia and Ferro;

Midfielders: Zivkovic, Samaris, Nuno Santos, Rafa, Gedson Fernandes, Franco Cervi, Krovinovic, Florentino and Gabriel;

Forwards: Seferovic, João Félix and Jota.

Adaptation training session

 Another intense day for the eagles. The delegation led by the President Luís Filipe Vieira traveled this Wednesday morning to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia.With no time to rest, but full of ambition, Benfica carried out the usual adaptation training session in the late afternoon. The 20 players named by Bruno Lage stepped into the pitch of the Maksimir Stadium, with the first 15 minutes open to the Press.

Krovinovic's preview

Happy to return to his homeland, ambitious and available to help the team, the midfielder Krovinovic points to a good performance of the eagles in Zagreb.

Referee of the match

The Englishman Michael Oliver was appointed by UEFA's Refereeing Committee to whistle the match between Dinamo Zagreb and Benfica, at 5:55 pm on Thursday, in Croatia, in the 1st leg of the Europa League last 16.

Pics: Isabel Cutileiro / SL Benfica, Twitter Dinamo Zagreb and UEFA