Good afternoon! Benfica will be able to book their place in the knockout stage of the Champions League today with victory over Astana, but the Kazakhstan champions have proved a tricky side to face on home soil this season. Let's start with a look at the teams.

ASTANA STARTING XI: Eric, Anicic, Ilic, Postnikov, Shomko, Maksimovic, Kethevoama, Muzhikov, Canas, Twumasi, Kabananga

BENFICA STARTING XI: Cesar, Lopez, Eliseu, Silvio, Jardel, Samaris, Sanchez, Jimenez, Jonas, Guedes, Pizzi

ASTANA SUBSTITUTES: Loginovski, Akhmetov, Beysebekov, Zhukov, Kozhamberdy, Dedechko, Schetkin

BENFICA SUBSTITUTES: Ederson, Almeida, Cristane, Carcela-Gonzalez, Mitroglu, Talisca, Santos

The visitors have made four changes to the side that beat Galatasaray in their last outing. Nicolas Gaitan is suspended after being sent off in their last outing, but Renato Sanches and Pizzi both come into the starting lineup.

Meanwhile, the home side have made one change after holding Atletico Madrid to a goalless draw in their last Champions League outing, with Baurzhan Dzolchiyev missing out, making way for Patrick Twumasi.

The good news for Astana is that midfielder Roger Canas is fit enough to be included, despite missing time with a muscle injury recently, which forced him to sit out to Kazakh Cup final.

Ahead of this match, Astana coach Stanimir Stoilov told reporters: "I'm expecting great support from our fans, because together with them we have an even better chance of winning. Our stadium is our home and our castle, and we should always look for victory here, even against the best teams in Europe. After their derby loss against Sporting, Benfica have been backed into a corner and they will be doubly motivated. It's too early to speak about qualifying for the next stage."

Meanwhile, Rui Vitoria, the Benfica manager, said at his pre-match press conference: "There is no need for extra motivation; we can go through to the next stage if we win here, but it will be a difficult game for us. Astana were really disciplined in our first match, but I think [our 2-0 win] was a fair result. The team and the fans put in great performances at home against Galatasaray and Atletico. Despite having injured players, I have faith in my team."

Here's a look at the artificial pitch as the Astana Arena, courtesy of Benfica's Twitter account:

As the players make their way out of the tunnel, let's just remind you how things stand in Group C. Benfica are top, two points clear of Atletico, so victory this afternoon would send them through, although a draw would be enough if the Spanish side draw with Galatasaray later. Astana are bottom, with just two points so far, but victory would give them a realistic chance of clinching the Europa League place.

PREDICTION! It's packed at the Astana Arena as kickoff is just a few minutes away, so there's just time for a quick prediction. Benfica are missing players, particularly Gaitan, and Astana have proved a tricky opponent at home. The Portuguese side should have enough though, so I'm going for a 2-1 away win.

KICKOFF! Benfica get the match underway.

Benfica are keen to test Nenad Eric early on, with Raul Jimenez charging forward behind playing a probing ball into the penalty area, but the keeper is quickly off his line to claim it for the hosts. The home supporters are really making themselves heard, as they have done at Astana's previous two home fixtures in their debut season in the Champions League proper.

Marin Anicic makes a run down the right, forcing a throw in near the corner for the home side. The long throw in almost drops to Muzhikov in the penalty area, but the striker loses track of it on the turn, allowing Eliseu to get it clear for the visitors.

Benfica certainly haven't settled well on the artificial surface, with Eliseu attempting to cross the ball in from the left, but getting it all wrong, slicing it straight behind for a goal kick. The home side try to make the most of his slip with a quick counter, but Kabananga loses possession on the edge of the box.

Benfica surge forward again, forcing Anicic to head a Jonas cross behind for the first corner of the match. The ball back in is missed by the Astana defenders, but there's no-one there to meet it for the visitors, allowing Kabananga to race back down the other end.

CHANCE! Renato Sanches tries to make his presence felt as he tees up the first shot of the encounter, but his 25-yard strike was always rising, and fails to test Nenad Eric. It's the 18-year-old's first start in the Champions League.

CHANCE! Benfica are starting to show a little more intent going forward, with a Pizzi delivery setting up Jardel, but Eric makes a diving save at the near corner to keep it out. Astana immediately try to counter, feeding the ball through to Kabananga yet again, but his effort is blocked.

CHANCE! Anicic blocks a shot on Guedes, giving the visitors another corner. It's the second time in just a few minutes that the defender has had to intervene. Pizzi is on corner duty again, delivering yet another ball just asking to be attacked, but Benfica are slow to react, eventually resulting in Guedes weakly tapping the ball into Eric's hands. Benfica are definitely looking lively though.

Lisandro Lopez earns himself a talking to from the referee as the defenders goes in a bit heavy on Kabananga. The referee gives him the benefit of the doubt this time. A booking this early on could really hamper Lopez marking the big striker.

CHANCE! After surviving a strong spell from Benfica, the hosts are starting to see more of the ball, with Foxi Kethevoama floating in a brilliant pass from the left flank for Patrick Twumasi, but Julio Cesar reacts quickly, just keeping the ball out.

Twumasi's shot moments earlier gives the home side confidence, and they quickly come again, led by a charge down the left from Kabananga. The striker spots the run of Twumasi, firing a cross in from near the left corner to leave the midfielder to put a bullet header past Cesar. It's Astana's first real goal of the competition, with two own goals having earned them a 2-2 draw with Galatasaray in their first home fixture.

Astana are completely in control at the moment, and the home crowd are loving it! Kabananga races towards the Benfica box again, with Twumasi in pursuit looking for his second in quick succession, but the visitors manage to win it back this time.

BOOKING! Raul Jimenez earns himself a yellow card after catching Evgeny Postnikov in the face with a flailing arm, leaving the Astana defender with a cut above his eye.

There's a delay as the Astana medics and Postnikov are desperate for him to play on, bandaging the wound above his eye. There's still quite a bit of blood coming from the cut though, so it wouldn't be a surprise if he has to go off for stitches. He's going to try to play on for now though. It's a pretty chilly night in Astana, which should at least help numb the pain.

The action gets back underway, with Eliseu floating the ball into the box for Jonas, but Eric comes off his line to put the Benfica man off, forcing his shot wide. Benfica just haven't been able to settle into any kind of rhythm so far, and look rather stunned to find themselves trailing.

The goalscorer is on the move again, with Twumasi showing impressive pace on the right flank. He crosses the ball in towards Muzhikov, but the striker's first touch is lacking. Benfica look so vulnerable on to the counter-attack at the moment, while Astana are continuing to grow in confidence. At the moment, a second goal for the hosts looks more likely than a Benfica equaliser.

Wow! Astana have doubled their lead with just over half an hour gone, and it's thanks to a fantastic free kick from Foxi Kethevoama. The midfielder is brought down by Silvio around 40 yards out, and he whips it into the box, picking out Marin Anicic, who manages to deflect it into the back of the net off the back of his head. It doesn't look like the defender knew too much about his finish, but he certainly looks pleased with it!

CHANCE! Benfica desperately try to create something to get them back into this game, but a miscue from Samaris leaves Eric with an easy take. Renato Sanches gets it back in the middle before playing it out wide to Jimenez. He squares it back in for Pizzi, but Eric spots the danger, and parries the ball away with a diving save.

Benfica get in the Astana box again as Samaris wins a free kick in a promising position, but the curling ball into the box is headed harmlessly wide by Jardel. Nothing seems to be going right for the Portuguese side at the moment.

CHANCE! Jonas tries his luck with a long-range effort, and he gets plenty of movement on the ball, wrong-footing the keeper, but it just swerves wide at the last moment, missing the top corner.

Benfica get themselves back in the tie before the break, with a clinical finish from Raul Jimenez. Jonas makes the run down the right before crossing the ball in front of goal, leaving the striker to nod the ball into the bottom corner at the far post, leaving Eric no chance to get his hands to it.

Benfica clearly think they can get back on level terms before the break as Eliseu comes forward, but he loses the ball, allowing the hosts to break back down the other end.

BOOKING! Lisandro Lopez is the second Benfica player to pick up a yellow card as he loses out in a foot race with Twumasi. The home fans are expecting a red card, believing that the defender denied a goal-scoring opportunity, but he was still 30 yards out, so the referee gives him the benefit of the doubt with a booking.

CHANCE! Astana have a free kick as a result of Lopez's foul, which Shomko tries to flick in from close range, but it's just wide. Twumasi gathers it in midfield and races back into the Benfica box, but his drive is inches wide. Astana have responded brilliantly to Jimenez's goal, and could have easily restored their two-goal cushion.

What a busy first half in Astana! The home side survived an early push from Benfica before opening up a two-goal lead, but the visitors have kept themselves in contention with a goal from Raul Jimenez shortly before the break. The Kazakh champions will feel aggrieved not to have seen Lisandro Lopez sent off though, as the defender pulled down Twumasi as he was racing towards the Benfica penalty area, and the home fans clearly thought it was a goal-scoring opportunity, loudly booing the yellow card. It's poised to be a thrilling second half!

Benfica saw more of the ball in the first half, with 60% possession. They also created more chances, with 12 to Astana's five. The home side have had just two shots on target, but both have ended up in the back of the net, while Nenad Eric has made four saves to deny Benfica.

Patrick Twumasi has been brilliant for the hosts so far. His pace has made Benfica's back four look positively pedestrian, and his header to open the scoring was superb. If he can maintain his performance in the second half, Astana will be optimistic that they can add to the score further.

A victory for Astana would move them up to third in the group, and keep their chances of progressing to the knockout stage of the Champions League alive, although they would need other results to go their way. Beating a side like Benfica would stand alone as a great achievement for a side in its first year in the group stage of the tournament though.

The players are starting to make their way back out ready for the start of the second half.

RESTART! Astana get the second half underway.

Neither side have made any changes at half time, although Postnikov, who sustained a cut above the eye in the first half, appears to have had further treatment over the interval. Jimenez tries to get forward, but the battered defender does enough to stop him getting his shot away.

Both sides clearly recognise the importance of the next goal in this match as Astana pile forward, looking to get the ball though to Twumasi, but Kabananga is unable to get it through to the scorer of the opening goal. Benfica immediately charge down the other end, led by Sanches, but Eric decisively comes off his line to snatch it away from the feet of the teenage winger.

BOOKING! Both Benfica strikers are now on a caution as Jonas is shown a yellow card for catching Roger Canas.

Tsumasi surges forward from the middle of the field, before Sanches does enough to force him out wide. The Astana man shows impressive footwork as he tries to keep the ball alive, but he runs out of room as he tries to get the cross in.

BOOKING! Canas, having been fouled himself just a minute or two earlier, makes a rash tackle on Guedes, earning himself Astana's first booking of the match.

CHANCE! Kabananga barges his way forward again, with Twumasi arriving inside. The striker tries to take the shot on himself though, and can only slice it straight at Julio Cesar.

Benfica try to get back on level terms down the other end with a delivery from out wide falling nicely for Jardel in the middle, but Anicic does just enough to prevent the defender from getting the header away, while another ball in down the right goes straight through to Eric.

Astana's tempo is just relentless as they break back towards the Benfica goal. Muzhikov sprints through the middle before playing the ball out wide to Kethevoama. He attempts to square it across the face of goal for Kabananga, but Cesar is able to grab it before the striker can get his boot to it.

Astana look dangerous every time they have the ball as Twumasi makes a run to the edge of the area before spotting the arriving Kabanga, but his pass for his teammate is a little ahead of the striker, and goes just wide of the left post. Benfica surely can't afford to keep giving the home side this much room at the back.

A mix up almost gifts the visitors an equaliser as Astana seem to think the ball has gone out behind, but Benfica keep it alive, setting Jonas up for a shot, but he can't keep it on target.

CHANCE! Julio Cesar has to be alert as his defenders leave the goal wide open yet again. Maksimovic sees his shot block, but it only goes as far as Kethevoama, who tries to pick out the bottom corner, only for the keeper to tip it around the post.

Benfica clear the resulting corner, and force one of their own down the other end, but Pizzi's ball back in is punched by Eric. Meanwhile, it looks like Silvio could have picked up an injury for the visitors.

SUBS! Unsurprisingly, Benfica are making changes, with Silvio and Andreas Samaris making way for Talisca and Andre Almeida.

Patrick Twumasi is on the move again after being picked out by Kabananga, but Lopez slides in with the challenge. Initially, it looks like the Astana playmaker has been hurt, but he's soon back on his feet. The home side certainly wouldn't want to see him go off given his performance so far this afternoon.

CHANCE! A slip in midfield leaves Kabananga wide open for a run into the Benfica box. He tries to chip the ball beyond Cesar, but the keeper does well to deflect it behind for a corner. Benfica have been shaky at the back, but Cesar has pulled off some excellent saves, particularly in the second half to keep the Portuguese side in contention.

Kabananga is bearing down on the Benfica goal yet again, but this time he's got Jardel for company, and the Benfica defender just gets enough on the ball to guide it back to Cesar.

Having survived something of an onslaught from Astana, Benfica finally manage to get back on level terms in the second half. Andre Almeida makes the run, delicately threading it through a crowded penalty area to pick out Jimenez, who toe-pokes the ball into the bottom left off the inside of the post.

Astana force a corner as they try to edge back in front, but Twumasi's delivery into the box, but the ball is easily dealt with. Ilic comes forward to take a long throw though, and gets good distance on it to set up Kabananga, but Cesar beats him to it.

Benfica are just trying to slow what has been a relentless pace down a little, keeping the ball in the middle, with Talisca and Eliseu moving the ball across the width of the pitch. A draw would surely still be a disappointment for the visitors, but it could still be enough to send them through to the knockout stage, defending on the other result in Group C later today.

SUB! Benfica make their final change of the match as Jonas makes way for Bryan Cristante.

Dmitriy Shomko brings it down the left for the home side before crossing into the six-yard box, where Twumasi is arriving at pace, but Cesar claims it.

SUB! Astana are finally making their first change of the match, and it's a weary Junior Kabananga, who has given absolutely everything in this match, who heads off early, making way for Aleksey Shchetkin.

CHANCE! Benfica work the ball forward nicely with a string of quick passes through the middle, setting up Talisca for a low drive from just outside the box, but Eric makes another solid save to deny Benfica a third.

Talisca is involved again, but he gets crowded out on the edge of the box. He manages to tap it back to Guedes, but he loses his footing while trying to cross the ball in from the right hand side.

SUB! Georgia Zhukov comes on for a late cameo for the home side, taking the place of Foxi Kethevoama.

Benfica are really just trying to keep possession in the final minutes of this match, with Eliseu holding it up on the left before coming under pressure from Twumasi, who appears to have tweaked something in the process.

SUB! Twumasi limps to the sideline, with Denis Dedechko taking his place for the final few minutes. There are five minutes of stoppage time to come though, so there's still time for both teams to find a winner.

Benfica have a free kick in a dangerous position as the final whistle approaches. They take it short, setting up Pizzi for a shot from just outside the box, but he scuffs it, leaving the ball to bobble harmlessly wide.

Astana think they're going to get on more chance as they win a free kick just inside Benfica's half, but some pushing and shoving between Sanches and Shchetkin on the edge of the box results in the latter being penalised.

Well, it's not the result either side really needed, but a thoroughly entertaining tie ends level as Benfica come from two goals down for a 2-2 draw with Astana. It means the Kazakh side can't progress to the knockout stage, although they are still in the hunt for the Europa League spot, while Benfica will have to wait to see what happens in the later matches to see if they book their spot in the last 16 tonight, or have to wait until the final matchday.

Astana can certainly be pleased with their performance, which ensures that they finish the competition with an unbeaten home record on their debut at this of the Champions League. They still have one more chance to get their first win, as they travel to Galatasaray in their final fixture next month.

Right, that's all from this match, but stick around as CSKA Moscow and Wolfsburg are about to kick off in Russia, while there are six more matches to come at 7.45pm. Thanks for joining me this afternoon. Goodbye.