Red-hot Timo Werner can fire RB Leipzig to the UEFA Champions League knockout stage for the first time when they host Benfica on Wednesday (kick-off: 9pm CET/8pm GMT/3pm ET).


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Werner and Leipzig have been in scintillating form of late. The Germany international has scored eight goals in his last four competitive starts for the club, while Die Roten Bullen as a team have netted 22 in those games. All told for Leipzig it’s five consecutive wins across three competitions, including a 2-0 victory away at Zenit Saint Petersburg in their previous European game that made it nine points from a possible 12 in the group. That means that just a draw against Benfica would be enough for them to progress to the Champions League round of 16 for the first time in their history. Saturday’s convincing 4-1 win at home to Cologne did come at a cost for Julian Nagelsmann’s side, though, as Dayot Upamecano suffered a bruised ankle and is a doubt, meaning Leipzig have none of their first-choice central defenders fully fit. Ibrahima Konate is returning from a hip problem so could be pressed into action, but captain Willi Orban is out after knee surgery. Those injury problems could see Welsh teenager Ethan Ampadu being handed his Champions League debut. USA midfielder Tyler Adams is expected back in training this week, but not in time for this game.

Benfica are once again top of the pile in Portugal, two points clear of Porto after registering 10 victories and just a solitary defeat to their great rivals. At the weekend the Portuguese champions were in cup action and came from behind to win 2-1 away at third-tier Vizela in the fourth round. In Europe, though, they sit bottom of Group G with just a single victory – at home to Lyon – from four games. They were beaten 2-1 in Lisbon by Leipzig in the opening match, and know they have to win at the Red Bull Arena to have a chance of progressing to the last 16. Bruno Lage’s side will have to do so without striker Haris Seferovic following his injury on international duty with Switzerland. But Carlos Vinicius, who has four goals in his last five league games, is expected to come in up front and aid 13-goal top scorer Pizzi out on the wing. The Eagles may have kept six clean sheets in their last eight league games, but they have conceded nine goals in the Champions League so far this term.

Match stats
Leipzig need a point to qualify for the Champions League knockout stage for the first time. They will top Group G with a win if Lyon fail to win in Saint Petersburg earlier in the evening.
Werner’s goal on Saturday against Cologne took his total for this season to 16 in just 18 games across all competitions.

Leipzig have scored 24 goals and conceded just four in their last five competitive matches.
Die Roten Bullen have won both previous matches against Benfica. Werner bagged a brace in Lisbon for a 2-1 victory on Matchday 1, following a 2-0 friendly win in London in 2017.
Benfica have won on just two of their 25 competitive visits to Germany, losing 17 of those games. They were beaten on their last five trips since 2014 by an aggregate scoreline of 15-2 against Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and last year in the Europa League quarter-finals against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Seferovic spent three seasons in the Bundesliga with Frankfurt, scoring 16 goals before his move to Benfica. His Eintracht side lost 3-0 against Leipzig before a 2-2 draw in the return fixture in 2016/17.

Probable line-ups
Leipzig: Gulacsi – Laimer, Klostermann, Ampadu, Saracchi – Sabitzer, Haidara, Demme (c), Nkunku – Forsberg – Werner
Doubtful: Adams (match fitness), Halstenberg (knock), Konate (hip), Mukiele (hamstring), Upamecano (ankle), Wolf (ankle)
Out: Ilsanker (ineligible), Kampl (ankle), Orban (knee)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann

Benfica: Vlachodimos – Almeida (c), Ferro, Dias, Grimaldo – Pizzi, Gabriel, Florentino, Cervi – Chiquinho, Vinicius
Doubtful: Conti (muscular)
Out: Seferovic (calf), Silva (groin)
Coach: Bruno Lage