Omonia Nicosia host Benfica at the Neo GSP in NicosÃa on Thursday 22 October, kick-off 8pm UK. Both sides have won both of their Europa League league-stage games, and neither has lost in the competition since August. Omonia are 6th of 36 on six points with four goals scored and none conceded. Benfica are 3rd, also on six points, with six scored and one let in.
That makes this a meeting of two perfect starts with very different goal records. Benfica have scored 3.13 a game across their matches, while Omonia have conceded just 0.67 a game.
Omonia have won four of their last five. They beat Celta 1-0 in September, then went to Slovenia and won 3-0 at Celje on 15 October. Their only defeat in that run was 1-0 away to Sint-Truiden in the qualifying rounds, which they reversed with a 4-2 home win a week later. They have kept a clean sheet in 50% of their games and average 4.67 shots on target a game.
Benfica have won nine of their last ten across all competitions. The one defeat was 3-1 at Porto on 20 September. Since then they have beaten Vitória SC 2-0 in the league and put four past Celtic in a 4-1 home win on 15 October. Before the Porto defeat they won 2-0 at AC Milan in the Europa League.
Benfica's shots on target come at 7.75 a game and they win corners at 6.88 a game. They have kept a clean sheet in 25% of their games, and both teams have scored in 75% of them.
Omonia Nicosia possible starting lineup:
Fabiano; Duverne, Satka, Balkovec, Coulibaly; Maric, Andreou; Montnor, Ewandro Costa, Tankovic; Diony
Benfica possible starting lineup:
Trubin; Bah, Araújo, Lenglet, Dahl; Palhinha, Aursnes; Prestianni, Sudakov, Lukébakio; Durán
Dodi Lukébakio has had a shot on target in four of his last five games, and he is 1.20 at bet365 to do it again.
Ewandro Costa has had a shot in four of his last five. He is 1.50 at bet365 for a shot here.
Alexander Bah has committed a foul in four of his last five and is 1.40 at bet365 to do it again.
Jean-Kévin Duverne is 6.00 for a shot on target, which our model ranks among the likeliest in the match.
João Palhinha has committed a foul in each of his last five games, and he is 1.22 at Midnite to make it six.
Benfica are the clear favourites at 1.36 with bet365, with Omonia at 8.00 and the draw at 5.00.
| Market | Best price | Statz chance |
|---|---|---|
| Omonia win | 8.00 (bet365) | - |
| Draw | 5.00 (bet365) | - |
| Benfica win | 1.36 (bet365) | - |
| Both teams to score | 1.91 (bet365) | - |
| Over 2.5 goals | 1.57 (bet365) | - |
Omonia have conceded none in two league-stage games, but Benfica average 3.13 goals a game and have scored at least twice in four of their last five. Both teams to score is 1.91 and over 2.5 goals is 1.57 with bet365, and over 1.5 goals is 1.17. Omonia's two league-stage wins were 1-0 against Celta and 3-0 at Celje, Benfica's were 2-0 at AC Milan and 4-1 against Celtic, and kick-off is at 8pm UK at the Neo GSP in Nicosia.