How Benfica could line up against Club Brugge

With a 2-0 lead to protect from the first leg, Benfica remain without long-term ankle victim Julian Draxler, while Mihailo Ristic and Chiquinho's muscular problems are also unlikely to heal in time.

Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Goncalo Guedes is also expected to miss out with a knee injury, but none of Benfica's injury absences would have affected Schmidt's starting XI selection either way.

A mixture of youth and experience will line up in front of number one Odisseas Vlachodimos, as wily veteran Nicolas Otamendi and much-coveted 19-year-old Antonio Silva form the centre-back partnership.

Alexander Bah and Alejandro Grimaldo - who could soon become an in-demand free agent - should occupy the full-back roles, while Fredrik Aursnes and Florentino occupy the base of the midfield.

Crashing home a penalty off the crossbar in the first leg, Joao Mario has scored in four successive Champions League games and could become the first Benfica man to do so in five since Eusebio in the 1960s.

Mario ought to form a recognisable attacking quartet with Rafa Silva, David Neres and Goncalo Ramos, whose brace against Famalicao at the weekend took him up to 21 goals for the season in all competitions.

Benfica possible starting lineup: Vlachodimos; Bah, Otamendi, A. Silva, Grimaldo; Aursnes, Florentino; Mario, R. Silva, Neres; Ramos