Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the Champions League clash between Benfica and Astana.

Benfica embark on another campaign in the Champions League following their triumph in the Primeira Liga last season, winning the competition for a record 34th time. However, they will be desperate to improve on their performance in the Champions League last season as they crashed out of the tournament in the group stage, finishng bottom of Group C after claiming victory in just one of their six matches.

It is a hugely exciting night for Astana as they are competing in the Champions League group stage for the first time in their history. The Kazakh side defeated APOEL, Maribor and HJK to secure their place in the group stage of the competition, despite the fact that the nation is part of Asia rather than Europe, which may have vindicated the decision of the country to apply for a place in UEFA in 2002.

The team news has been announced and we'll start with the home side.

BENFICA STARTING XI: Julio Cesar; Semedo, Luisao, Jardel, Eliseu; Samaris, Gaitan, Jonas, Goncalo Guedes, Talisca, Mitroglou
SUBS: Ederson, Sílvio, Fejsa, Victor Andrade, Jiménez, Pizzi, Nuno Santos

ASTANA STARTING XI: Eric, Anicic, Ilic, Postnikov, Shomko, Maksimovic, Zhukov, Kethevoama, Canas, Dzholchiyev, Kabananga
SUBS: Golubnichi, Akhmetov, Pikalkin, Beysebekov, Muzhikov, Dedechko, Schetkin

A strong lineup for Benfica this evening as Luisao and Jardel start in the heart of the defence. Kostas Mitrolglou leads the line in attack alongside Jonas, while Talisca will also provide support in the final third. Nicolas Gaitan, Andreas Samaris and Goncalo Guedes play in a three-man midfield, while Semedo and Eliseu occupy the full-back spots.

Junior Kabananga leads the line for Astana this evening, while Foxi Kethevoama, Georgiy Zhukov and Baurzhan Dzholchiev play in behind the forward in a three-man midfield. Evgeny Postnikov and Marin Ancic anchor the middle of the defence, and Branko Ilic and Dmitriy Shomko line up in the full-back positions in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Benfica coach Rui Vitoria has admitted that his side will face a major challenge this evening against an unknown quantity in the Kazakh side.

He told reporters: "[Astana] are a side that are performing very well in their league. They have a lot of match fitness as they are in the middle of their season.

"They are quick in attack, using both wings; they have two lines of four and two attackers. Astana have quality players who, given space, will cause us trouble and try to get behind our defence."

Astana manager Stanimir Stoilov has insisted that his side are underdogs for the clash, but has told his players to focus on their fundamentals to try to secure a memorable upset this evening.

He told reporters: "We are a bit inexperienced at European level but if we stay organised and disciplined, we can score goals on the counterattack. Yes, they are favourites but anything can happen. Just being at this stage is motivation enough to deliver a performance. Our being in the Champions League is a great opportunity for Kazakhstani football."

Benfica are in decent form heading into the fixture as they have won three of their five matches this season, including their 6-0 triumph over Belenenses last week in their Primeira Liga clash. However, they have lost to Arouca and Sporting Lisbon in the campaign as well so Vitoria's have had their vulnerable moments.

Astana are unbeaten in their last nine matches coming into today's match, which includes their Champions League qualifying matches against HJK and APOEL. Their last defeat came in their qualifier against Maribor in July, but they have won their last four league matches on the spin, including a 3-2 away victory over Ordabasy last week.

A quick glimpse of the Estadio da Luz before kickoff.

Astana have travelled over 6,000km to reach Lisbon this evening. They will face huge trips across the continent because they are based so far away from the other clubs in their group, but have no doubt they will be not making any excuses for that in their peformances in the competition.

The players are making their way out on to the pitch so we should be underway shortly.

The Champions League anthem is over, and we're ready for kickoff at the Estadio da Luz.

KICKOFF! We're underway at the Estadio da Luz

First chance of the game falls the way of the home side as the ball is cleared to Talisca on the edge of the box. The forward takes the ball on the half-volley and fires towards goal, but Eric makes a comfortable save from his tame effort.

Gaitan tries to raid forward down the left and he looks to be in down the wing before Ilic brings him to the turf with a challenge from behind. Free kick in a decent area for the hosts, while the right-back escapes without a booking.

CHANCE! Gaitan flicks the ball to Goncalo Guedes from the free kick in an obvious training ground routine, but the winger can only put his strike wide of the post. No Astana player closed him down there and he could have at least tested Eric there.

Benfica have dominated possession thus far but have done very little with the ball in the final third as the visitors are doing a fine job of holding their defensive shape. There are very few openings available for the home side at the moment.

A forray forward for Astana as Foxi Kethevoama sends a long ball forward for Dzholchiev to chase, but Eliseu is alert to the danger and manages to clear the ball for a throw-in.

A sign of frustration perhaps from the home side as Gaitan exchanges passes with Eliseu, forward from left-back, but the defender chooses to go for goal himself rather than keeping the move alive, and his effort crashes into the stand behind the goal.

Astana come forward again through the midfield and Kethevoama sets his sights on target with little support around him. He strikes his right-footed shot with power - too much power - as his effort sails well over the crossbar.

Dzholchiev goes down just outside the box for the visitors under the challenge of Eliseu. A decent opportunity for Astana to threaten Julio Cesar's net with the set piece from 25 yards.

CHANCE! Kethevoama takes the set piece and curls his effort over the wall, but Cesar claims the ball with relative eas, although Postnikov does follow him when he falls to the ground on the lookout for a possible fumble, but the Brazilian's handling was fine.

YELLOW CARD! Anicic goes into the book for the visitor as he brings down Guedes right on the edge of the box. An excellent chance to threaten for Benfica as Gaitan stands over the ball.

Gaitan goes for guile with his free kick and he tries to lift his effort over the wall, but it strikes the top of a defender's head and is easily cleared by the visitors. Poor from the Argentine.

YELLOW CARD! Dzholchiev is very fortunate to get away with a booking as he kicks out at Eliseu after losing the ball out of play down the right wing. There was no need to kick the defender and the referee has shown leniency there to the winger, and he will have to watch his behaviour from now on.

Dzholchiev brings down Gaitan and the Argentine may be guilty of falling to the ground easily there. There was not a great deal of contact, and although the referee gives a foul he does not even speak to Dzholchiev.

Astana go on the attack down the right and there are men in the box for Canas to hit as he delivers a cross from the right, but he overhits his arcing ball into the area and it travels behind for a goal kick.

The game has not been high in quality this evening. We need a something to happen to spark both teams into the life.

CHANCE! Guedes goes down the right and lifts the ball into the box for Jonas. The ball reaches the striker with the aid of a deflection, and Jonas takes the ball on to his left foot and strikes with power at goal, but Eric makes a fine reaction save to deny Benfica.

CHANCE! Dzholchiev beats the challenge of Eliseu down the right and he speeds into the box. The winger has support in the middle, but opts to go alone and fires towards the net from a tight angle, but his strike sails into the sidenetting.

PENALTY SHOUT! Dzholchiev has the beating of Eliseu down the right again and this time he goes down in a heap in the box. The winger wants a penalty, but the defender is wagging his finger, and the referee agrees with the Benfica man. However, replays suggest that the spot kick should have been awarded as Eliseu clipped the foot of the winger.

Astana are working the ball well in the final third, but are yet to test Cesar. The Kazakh side are certainly proving to be no pushovers this evening.

YELLOW CARD! Dzholchiev is brought down yet again and Samaris is the guilty party with a late challenge.

CHANCE! Kabananga seizes the ball in the final third and has space to fire at goal from a tight angle, and the forward sends his strike just wide of the post. Plenty of encouragement for Astana in the final third.

CHANCE! Benfica hit the visitors on the break and Jonas raids past Anicic into the box and drills a strike low towards the bottom corner. His shot lacks power, but Eric has committed himself, although the keeper does just enough to get a boot on the ball to stop the initial effort. However, the ball then spins back over the stopper and Eric is forced to react quickly to race to his feet and gather it.

There will be one minute of added time.

YELLOW CARD! Guedes goes into the book for the home side for a challenge on Shomko.

Goalless at the break at the Estadio da Luz. Both teams have struggled for quality in the final third, but Astana will be delighted with their performance in their first Champions League group stage fixtures as they have held their own against the class of Benfica.

There have been few chances in the contest, with the best of those falling twice to Jonas as his left-footed volley was saved by Eric and the keeper denied him just before the break with another stop with his body. At the other end, Baurzhan Dzholchiev had a few moments when he raided past Eliseu and the visitors could have been awarded a penalty, but the referee waved away his claims.

The players are out for the second half and the visitors will be making a change.

SUBSTITUTION: Aleksey Shchetkin comes on for the visitors to replace Kabananga.

RESTART! We're back underway at the Estadio da Luz.

OFF THE POST! Shchetkin almost puts Astana ahead with his first touch as he manages to control the ball in the box following a cross from the right and on the stretch he guided the ball past Cesar, only to see his effort smack off the post. So close to huge goal for the visitors.

Benfica hit back and Gaitan tries to weave his way through a crowd of defenders into the box, but Astana manage to get men back to stop the attack.

Benfica take the lead and the chance at the other end has sparked them into the life. Gaitan plays a lovely one-two with Mitroglou to open up the space in the final third and the pass from the forward releases the Argentine into the box and he makes no mistake firing his strike into the bottom corner.

CHANCE! Samaris lifts the ball into the box for the run of Jonas, who takes the shot on first time, but his strike trickles into the hands of Eric.

CHANCE! Semedo raids down the right and lifts a pinpoint cross into the box for Mitroglou, but the striker cannot hit the back of the net with a free header from six yards out. An incredible miss!

Benfica raid down the left with a well-worked move as the visitors are cut open, and Eliseu puts the ball on a plate for Mitroglou who cannot misses from two yards out. Easy for the home side.

CHANCE! Shomko lines up a strike from distance for the visitors as no red shirts attempt to close him down. The midfielder gets a good connection on his strike, which sails towards the net, but eventually sails inches wide of the post. However, Cesar looked to have the effort covered anyway.

CHANCE! Astana come within inches of getting back into the game as Kethevoama lifts the ball into the box from a corner and the ball travels all the way to Ilic at the back post. The defender takes the shot on first time and his effort travels through a crowd of players and goes inches past the post.

Gaitan almost notches his second of the game as he raids to the edge of the box. He has time to drill an effort at goal, but he scuffs his strike and Eric makes the diving stop.

Astana pile men forward in an attempt to get back into the game, and Maksimovic was space and time on the edge of the box to shoot. However, he slices across his shot and his effort goes well wide of the post.

SUBSTITUTION: Pizzi replaces Jonas for the home side.

Benfica are doing a good job of taking the pace out of the game and are slowly edging their way towards victory this evening as Astana are beginning to tire.

SUBSTITUTION: Jimenez comes on for Talisca for Benfica.

YELLOW CARD! Zhukov goes into the book for a poor challenge of Jimenez. A tired challenge from the midfielder.

SUBSTITUTION: Beysebekov replaces Dzholchiev for the visitors. Dzholchiev had a good outing in the first half, but was anonymous in the second period.

YELLOW CARD! Canas tries to break upfield and is brought down by Jardel, who goes into the book.

A rare forray into the Benfica half for the visitors and Zhukov lifts a cross into the box from the left, and Beysebekov does well to beat his man in the air, but he cannot direct his header at goal and the home side are able to clear. There's still time left in this game if Astana can get a goal back quickly.

CHANCE! Jimenez comes within inches of a third goal for the home side as Eliseu puts a low ball across the face of goal, but the forward cannot hit the target with his sliding effort at the near post.

Canas comes to the edge of the box with time and space, but he dwells on the ball for too long and can only drill his shot into the body of Luisao.

CHANCE! Kethevoama latches on to the ball at the back post, but he can only put his tame header wide the post. The midfielder has all sorts of time to pick his spot there, but he couldn't hit the target.

There will be four minutes of added time.

One final chance for Benfica to add to tally this evening as Dedechko brings down Guedes 30 yards from goal. Eliseu stands over the the ball.

CHANCE! Eliseu curls his effort towards the top corner, but Eric beats the ball away with his fists to keep the scoreline down.

Benfica secure their first win of the Champions League campaign as strikes from Nicolas Gaitan and Kostas Mitroglou hand Rui Vitoria's men the victory over a spirited Astana at the Estadio da Luz. The Kazakh side played well in their first group stage match as they held their own against the quality of the home side, but the Eagles managed to up the ante in the second half to earn the three points.

Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Until next time, goodbye.