SL Benfica vs AGF

Benfica and Aarhus meet in the Europa League playoff round, with a place in the competition's league phase on the line. The first leg is at Estádio da Luz on 20 August, before the return in Denmark a week later. Benfica are early in their Primeira Liga campaign, sitting mid-table after a 2-2 draw with Académico Viseu, while Aarhus arrive as newly crowned Danish Superliga champions, their first title in 40 years. Benfica reached this stage by thrashing Hearts 7-2 on aggregate, with Dodi Lukebakio among the goals and Jhon Durán handed his first start as manager Marco Silva rotated heavily. Aarhus, guided by first-year coach Jakob Poulsen, dropped down from Champions League qualifying after a 4-0 defeat to Sabah FK. The sides have met twice before in Europe, both Benfica wins, back in 1960 and 1988. Aarhus arrive with genuine pedigree as champions, but Benfica's squad depth and continental experience should tell over two legs. Our prediction: 3-1