Dublin

Porto arguably look to be already there, having beaten Spanish side Villarreal 5-1 at the Estadio do Dragao last week and they are the 4/9 favourites in the tournament outright betting, but there is still plenty to play for in the clash when Braga host Benfica in the first all-Portuguese tie in UEFA club competition.

Benfica hold the edge after a 2-1 win at the Estadio da Luz last Thursday, thanks to goals from Jardel and Oscar Cardozo, and are slight favourites at 8/5 to win the return leg, with the home side on offer at 17/10 and the draw at 9/4.

The omens perhaps do not look good for the Eagles after winning the home leg of their quarter-final last year, only to lose the return leg at Anfield to Liverpool 4-1.

The Primeira Liga fixture at the AXA Stadium did yield a 2-1 win for the home side (9/1 for a repeat scoreline) and that of course would mean extra time, although Benfica have won 31 times at Braga in all league and cup fixtures.

The away goal that Braga achieved has given them an initial advantage, which might suit the ‘Arsenalists’ given the fact they have scored just five goals in seven games since entering the competition at the round of the 32, although conceding a mere four goals in the process.

By contrast, Benfica have registered three times as many goals in the same period, although they have let in seven.

Of course, Benfica do not have to win the game to go through but they have the firepower to get on the scoresheet with Oscar Cardozo (11/2 First/last and 13/8 Anytime Goalscorer) an obvious candidate after notching four in seven games in the competition.

Braga have yet to concede a home goal in the competition but Benfica are expected to have enough to book their progression, with a draw very much to their benefit.

The other semi-final second leg is less in the balance of course and the outcome may well depend on team selection, as Porto (9/5 to win at El Madrigal) go into the match with a 5-1 lead.

The Dragons have already wrapped up their domestic league title and with such a big cushion, may opt to rest some of their key stars with the final in mind.

One would have to expect some sort of response from Villarreal (7/5 f match betting), who actually took the lead in Portugal, but this tie looks beyond them after suffering their worst defeat in European competition – and they could renew their focus on the race for third place in La Liga.

Porto have now won five on the bounce in the competition, scoring five in each of their last three games – so there should be plenty of entertainment for the watching world and goals look to be on the cards with over 2.5 priced at 8/13.

And after his four-goal salvo in the first leg, it would be foolish to overlook Radamel Falcao in the scoring markets, and he is on offer at 7/1 to score two or more.

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