Benfica head coach Rui Vitoria says targeting a place in the Champions League knockouts is a must for his side.
The Lisbon giants have only gone beyond the group stage once in their last seven attempts, in the 2011-12 season, when they were beaten by eventual winners Chelsea in the quarter-finals.
"We want to start this group stage well, get three points and continue to perform the same way we did on Friday [in the 6-0 thrashing of Belenenses]," he said.
"We want to qualify from the group, which is something that has not happened too often in the past.
"We will treat Astana like any other opponent. They 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."
