Good evening and welcome to our live text commentary of the Europa League semi-final first-leg between Fenerbahce and Benfica at Sükrü Saraçoglu in Istanbul.

Aimar booked for a foul on Meireles, following on from a yellow for Andre Gomes too.

Webo nods down for Kuyt 30 yards from goal but the Dutch man arrows his shot well wide of target.

Great chance for Aimar.... SAVED! But he's offside anyway. Good stop by Volkan who wasn't to know when the diminutive attacker got free inside the area.

Volkan Demirel punches clear and the Turkish side manage to clear. Benfica having some joy when they send high balls into the box.

Aimar lifts it towards the near post but Garay can't quite get there. Another corner to the away team.

Ola John spins in behind the Fener defence and tricks his way to the byline to earn a corner.

Kuyt at the heart of Fener's best moves so far with some decent crosses. Of course, he's no stranger to Benfica. He took on Jorge Jesus' side with Liverpool in 2009-10, scoring the first goal in the second leg as the Reds recovered from a 2-1 defeat to win 4-1 at Anfield. Benfica's Óscar Cardozo scored all three of the Eagles' goals in that tie.

Cristian's delivery is cleared but the ball is worked out to Kuyt who lofts in another centre for Sow and Webo but the latter heads over under pressure.

Topal shoots from 40 yards.... corner ball via a deflection.

The Yellow Canaries are having some real joy down the right-hand side.

Kuyt delivers another testing ball into the area and Sow causes all sorts of problems but he can't quite get it under control and the visitors hack it to safety.

Still 1-0 to Chelsea in Basel.

Midway through the half? Thoughts so far?

STAT ALERT: None of the four remaining teams have previously won either the UEFA Cup or UEFA Europa League, and FC Basel and Fenerbahce are both in European semi-finals for the first time.

A sustained period of pressure from the visitors ends with some fine defending by Topal to avert the danger.

It was a quiet start from Fener but they've really rattled Benfica in the last few moments. A goal in the next few minutes would really light the touch paper for this tie - but which way will it go?

And yet another chance for the hosts. Cristian whips in a devilish centre for Egemen Korkmaz who heads straight at the keeper. Fener pushing hard now.

OFF THE BAR! Dirk Kuyt surges down the right and sends over a superb cross for Sow who thumps a majestic header against the bar. Unlucky.

CHANCE! Webo breaks down the right and drills a low ball to the near post for Sow, who stabs wide of the upright. Good play from the home team.

Webo receiving treatment after an aerial clash just inside the Benfica half.

Both sides still feeling their way into this. The hosts look a little nervous while the visitors are trying to come to terms with a vibrant home support.