Benfica vs Paris St Germain preview - Focus is on PSG - Jesus

Posted Tuesday, December 10, 2013 by PA

Benfica coach Jorge Jesus will have one eye on Greece as Champions League Group C concludes on Tuesday night, but insists it will not distract his focus from Paris St Germain.

The Portuguese side are battling with Olympiacos for second place in the group, with the two sides level on seven points - six behind confirmed group winners PSG.

Benfica host the French champions in Lisbon in the final round of fixtures while Olympiacos welcome rock-bottom Anderlecht to Piraeus.

Jesus told his club's official website: "We are only thinking about PSG.

"We have to be aware of what is going on in Greece because we are dependent on others.

"It will not be easy for Anderlecht to complicate things for Olympiacos, but football is unpredictable and we have to hope."

Should the two teams remain level on points, Olympiacos would take the second qualifying spot for the last 16 on head-to-head record, with defeat in Greece on November 5 condemning Benfica to the Europa League.

But Jesus said: "Our performance in Greece was impressive, this loss could prove decisive but we deserved at least a draw. The game in Greece, Benfica should have more points."

They go into the game without defender Guilherme Siqueira, midfielder Ruben Amorim and strikers Oscar Cardozo and Ola John and on the back of a disappointing draw at home to Arouca in the Liga.

But defender Andre Almeida said: "The team have been working well.

"The result against Arouca wasn't what we expected but it won't influence tomorrow's match. We'll be motivated, it's an important competition for us and we'll give everything to win this game."

PSG coach Laurent Blanc will rest striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, midfielder Marco Verratti and defenders Alex, Thiago Silva and Gregory van der Wiel with qualification already assured.

Zoumana Camara is set to partner Marquinhos in central defence.

Despite the absence of those high-profile names, though, defender Christophe Jallet is adamant they will not take the game lightly.

"We are not just here to visit Lisbon," he said. "We are here to win another match in the competition. We want to shine in the Champions League.

"The players who play on Tuesday evening will have the chance to show they deserve a place in the team.

"Benfica need to win to qualify so there will be plenty of motivation."