The UEFA Europa League group stage continues on October 22, 2026, as Cypriot side Omonia Nicosia welcome Portuguese giants Benfica. Omonia, with a modest domestic record of seven wins from 14 outings, find themselves in a challenging fixture. Their recent form has been inconsistent, securing just two wins from their last five matches, and they face a formidable opponent. Watch for their defensive organisation, having conceded only 10 goals domestically, which will be crucial against Benfica's potent attack.
Benfica arrive in Cyprus boasting an unbeaten domestic record of 22 wins and 10 draws from 32 games, a testament to their overwhelming dominance. Their 69 goals scored highlight an attacking prowess that Omonia will struggle to contain. While their recent form shows a slight dip with three wins and two draws in their last five, they remain overwhelming favorites. The narrative here is clear: can Omonia pull off a monumental upset against a European powerhouse, or will Benfica’s superior quality and depth prove too much? Expect Benfica to control possession and look to break down Omonia's disciplined defence early.
1. T. Kaminski, 27. S. Simič, 93. J. Duverne, 5. S. Coulibaly, 29. J. Balkovec, 17. F. Tănase, 11. Ewandro, 20. L. Brouwers, 74. P. Andreou, 7. J. Montnor, 99. L. Diony
1. A. Trubin, 6. A. Bah, 44. Tomás Araújo, 2. C. Lenglet, 26. S. Dahl, 8. F. Aursnes, 36. João Palhinha, 11. D. Lukebakio, 10. H. Sudakov, 25. G. Prestianni, 22. J. Durán
Match events
14' Goal Own Goal — Loïc Nego (Benfica)
42' Goal Normal Goal — Andronikos Kakoullis (Omonia Nicosia) (assists: Jaden Sean Montnor)
49' Goal Normal Goal — Vangelis Pavlidis (Benfica)
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