Braga continued their excellent season with a 2-1 victory against Sion in Switzerland to take a big step towards the last 16 of the Europa League. 

The Arsenalistas may well be the only Portuguese representative left at that stage of the competition, as FC Porto and Sporting both lost to German opposition. 

Porto fell to a 2-0 defeat at Borussia Dortmund while Sporting also lost, 1-0 at home to Bayer Leverkusen at Alvalade. 

Sporting, Porto & Braga carry Portuguese hopes

Portugal have three represenatives in the knockout stage of the Europa League.

Sporting and FC Porto face German opponents in the shape of Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund respectively, while Braga play Swiss outfit Sion.

With the aid of experts on each club PortuGOAL profiles what the Portuguese trio can expect on Thursday.

Benfica 1-0 Zenit

An injury-time goal gave Benfica a precious lead to take to Russia in three weeks' time as the Eagles continue their impressive Champions League campaign.

A cagey match of few chances seemed to be drifting to a goalless draw, but with Zenit reduced to ten men Jonas headed in Gaitán's pinpoint free kick to trigger wild celebrations among the home players and fans in Lisbon tonight. 

Having kept a clean sheet, Benfica have given themselves a good shot at reaching the quarter-finals of the world's greatest club competition. 

Benfica will be aiming to bounce back from their defeat against FC Porto in Friday's clássico and get straight back on the winning path as they welcome Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg to the Estádio da Luz on Tuesday night. 

What can the Eagles expect from André Villas Boas' team? Russian football expert Toke Theilade tells PortuGOAL about Benfica's Champions League opponents.