Requiring a three-goal win to avoid elimination from Europe, Benfica conclude their Champions League Group D campaign on Tuesday, when they visit Red Bull Salzburg.
Both teams are out of the running for a place in the last 16 of UEFA's top club competition, but Salzburg are in the driving seat as far as securing a Europa League playoff is concerned.
The Austrian champions were 2-0 winners in Lisbon on the opening matchday, consigning 10-man Benfica to defeat via goals from Roko Simic and Oscar Gloukh, after Karim Konate missed an early penalty and Antonio Silva was sent off: although they have picked up just one more point since then, a tally of four is three more than their final-day opponents.
It would take a significant upset to overturn Salzburg's head-to-head advantage now, so their fifth successive Champions League campaign looks likely to end with a consolation place in UEFA's second-tier tournament.
Die Roten Bullen ended a three-game losing streak in their last European fixture, holding out for a goalless draw at Anoeta against Real Sociedad, who join Inter Milan at the head of the table on 11 points apiece.
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