Benfica – Lech Poznań: preview and match prediction for the fourth round of the 2026/27 Europa League group stage

Benfica – Lech Poznań: preview
We have the lineups for the Benfica vs Lech Poznań match in the context of the fourth round of the 2026/27 Europa League group stage.
"Benfica" leads the Europa League table. "Lech" is one of the outsiders in the group stage, but in one of the matches against a higher‑class opponent, the Poles managed to get points.
Key moments
Benfica
1. "Benfica" shines in the Europa League
The Eagles are top of the group stage table. In all competitions, "Benfica" remains a team of Champions League playoff level, as confirmed by this year’s results: the Marko Silva side comfortably faced "Milan" at home (2:0), demolished "Seltic" at their stadium (4:1) and won away with the same score against "Omonia". In the domestic league, the situation is worse: due to an unreliable defence, the Eagles are five points behind "Porto" after losing the match at "Dragao" (1:3). Currently, "Benfica" has a streak of six consecutive wins in all competitions. The last one was achieved in the league with a modest win over "Alverka".
2. Possible squad rotation
In the previous European match against a peer opponent "Lech", Benfica’s head coach used an experimental lineup. On the field appeared Anatoliy Trubin, who lost his place in the starting XI, as well as defenders Alessandro Circkati and Suhfan El Karrani, the midfield support player Manu Silva and the yet‑untried Claudio Echverri in Europe. Team leaders Gianluca Prestiani and Vangelis Pavlidis also started. Veteran Rafa Silva, who has recently lost his place in the squad, might get a chance.
3. "Benfica" shines in attack
The José Mourinho era was controversial: the Eagles did not always play against the opponent, but the high number of draws cost the team a place in the Champions League. Now the team is too focused on attack: "Benfica" scored 27 goals in ten league matches, surpassing the leader "Porto", who prefers cautious control. The Eagles are also the only team in the Europa League group stage that has scored a two‑digit number of goals in three rounds. Even against Benfica’s experimental lineup, "Lech" can only benefit from a deep defence.
Lech Poznań
1. "Lech" dominates the league, but that is not enough for good performance in European competitions
The Poznań club is comfortably leading the Polish league table: it has 31 points and only two defeats in twelve matches. Like "Benfica", "Lech" plays attacking: it scored 32 goals and also concedes less than anyone. However, at the European competition level, this style is not justified. "Lech" failed in the first two group stage matches: lost away to the crisis "Crystal Palace" 0:4 and lost at home to "Bayer" with the same score. Only in the match against "Sunderland", now at the bottom of the Premier League table and with an experimental lineup, did the Poles manage a draw. Objectively, their chances of advancing to the spring phase are very low.
2. Injuries remain present, changes in attack may be minimal
Now "Lech" cannot count on three players: the Swedish centre‑back Alex Douglas and the Iranian winger pair Allahyar Saadmanesh and Ali Golizade. However, without them, the team has already played for a long time, and many have forgotten these losses. Compared to the last league match against "Wisła" from Cracovia, "Lech" head coach Nils Frederiksen, who turns 56 on the day of the match, can make two changes. Veteran Swedish striker Mikael Ishak will return to the squad, and on the left flank Daniel Håkon may appear instead of Leo Bengtsson.
3. "Lech" defence does not reach the level of European competitions
Nils Frederiksen has worked with the team since the third year and has taken it to a new level, but in European competitions "Lech" plays poorly in defence. This is especially evident in away matches and against top‑level opponents. In last season’s Conference League, the Poles even lost to Gibraltar’s "Lincoln Red Imps" (1:2). In this league campaign, the team let four goals from "Orcus" in its own ground. "Benfica" is one of the favourites of this Europa League competition, and in "Da Luj" the Poles will have a tough day.
Lineup guidance
4-2-3-14-2-3-11
Trubin44 Araju 3 Circkati34 El Karrani6 Ba8 Aursnes16 Manu21 Sheldrup25 Prestiani27 Silva14 Pavlidis1 Liss72 Skzypchak59 Yegbe2 Pereira15 Gurgul43 Kozubal22 Muravskij10 Volemark21 Rodriguez11 Håkon9 Ishak
Betting predictions
In four of the last five matches of "Benfica" and in four of the last five matches of "Lech" both teams scored. OZ – for 1.9.
In six of the last ten matches of "Benfica" and in seven of the last ten matches of "Lech" four goals were scored. TB 3.5 – for 1.8.
Prediction
Benfica vs Lech Poznań 06.11.2026 00:00
"Benfica" shines in the Europa League: it leads the group stage table and is the only team that has scored a two‑digit number of goals. Marko Silva will rotate half the squad, but even with that combination, the Eagles outscore "Lech" by several goals. "Benfica" plays attacking in the domestic league, surpassing "Porto" in goals without losing a point. "Lech" dominates the league: in twelve matches, the Poznań club lost only twice. However, the level of the Polish league on the international stage remains low, as shown by the crushing defeats against "Bayer" and the rebuilding "Crystal Palace". The draw with the EPL outsider "Sunderland" was achieved with an unoptimal English side. "Lech" plays poorly in defence in European competitions even against rivals of the level of "Orcus" and "Lincoln Red Imps". Therefore, there is almost no doubt about the overwhelming victory of the Portuguese.
Prediction: 5-1

Original Spanish publication ↗