Al Ahli can sustain pressure through several creators, while Al-Gharafa have direct wide outlets and a route from restarts. The first pass after a turnover should determine whether those outlets become real box contact. Santa Clara are built to defend their area for long spells, with Benfica likely to recover many clearances high upfield. That match turns on how often Benfica's repeated entries become clean finishes rather than blocked attempts.
Spertsyan and Bondarenko can keep finding Toney and Trincão, and Al Ahli have recently produced chances through more than one receiver. Brahimi and Ounas give Al-Gharafa a way past the first press toward Sassi or Sano. Demiral missed Al Ahli's latest match, while Bennacer is reported suspended for this competition; Gharafa still created nine shots on target against Esteghlal without him. Al Ahli's pressure should bring its own chances, and Gharafa's independent wide and restart supply makes me side with goals from Al-Gharafa as well.
Santa Clara conceded only twice in four league home games and restricted Braga to one shot on target. Ferreira and Ribeiro can relieve pressure through Paciência or Lopes, with Soares available for the next delivery. Tavares is suspended, but Vasconcelos has already supplied an attacking replacement route; Benfica's Pavlidis travelled after leaving the Omonia game hurt. Benfica should spend long periods around the box, yet Santa Clara's organised last line and direct outlet give them a way to keep the contest close. That's why I'm siding with Santa Clara.
