Steven Pienaar thinks Everton has a good chance of winning the Europa League, should they beat Sporting Lisbon and make it through to the last 16 of the Europa League.
The midfielder also believes Evertons experience of facing Benfica earlier in the season will pay dividends for tomorrows encounter with Sporting Lisbon.
Pienaar: "Benfica have a really good team who can easily play in the Champions League, but I think we learned how to go about it against a Latin team, It helps us that we got one of the teams that play in their league.
“It's totally different than the Premier League, The pace of the game is really slow; it's more of a dogfight – about who has the hardest punch, who is smarter. It is important for me to be part of a team that has a lot of hunger, desire to win trophies, and of course to be part of the history of Everton. I think we have got a good chance if we go through.
"We play the first game at home, so we can get into them, make it uncomfortable, and then when we get a chance in Portugal do the same."
The midfielder also believes Evertons experience of facing Benfica earlier in the season will pay dividends for tomorrows encounter with Sporting Lisbon.
Pienaar: "Benfica have a really good team who can easily play in the Champions League, but I think we learned how to go about it against a Latin team, It helps us that we got one of the teams that play in their league.
“It's totally different than the Premier League, The pace of the game is really slow; it's more of a dogfight – about who has the hardest punch, who is smarter. It is important for me to be part of a team that has a lot of hunger, desire to win trophies, and of course to be part of the history of Everton. I think we have got a good chance if we go through.
"We play the first game at home, so we can get into them, make it uncomfortable, and then when we get a chance in Portugal do the same."
