Albion won’t be meeting Benfica in the play-off round.

The Eagles from Lisbon might even be out by the time the Seagulls next take to the Europa League stage.

But, should the two clubs be paired at some stage, it will be special for one of Albion’s South American contingent.

Facundo Buonanotte regards Angel Di Maria as an example and an inspiration.

The two play similar roles and are both fans and former players of Rosario Central in Argentina.

Di Maria helped keep Benfica in Europe with his goal direct from a corner in the midweek win at Salzburg.

But there has been talk of him returning to Rosario when his deal in Portugal runs out in June.

Buonanotte, enjoying a run of games with Albion, said: “Obviously, I would love to see it.

“As a fan, any fan you ask about Angel, they will say he is a player from another planet.

“What he has achieved in his career, it is not normal.

“He is a player I admire a lot, all the more because he plays in my position.

“He is a Central fan, I’m a Central fan.

“I see him as a reference for me and to be able to improve because imitating him is impossible.

“Obviously, I’d love to see it but that depends on him.

“Whenever he wants, I’m sure Central will always open their doors to him.”

Buonanotte played a more central and combative role than you would see from Di Maria as Albion beat Marseille.

Head coach Roberto De Zerbi sees that as his best position, saying: “He can play as a winger and as a No.10, but his characteristic maybe is better playing inside, not wider.

“Because inside with the small spaces is better, but he can play like the Chelsea game when he played very well, starting from the winger position.”

That more central role would appear to mean more physical collisions, which is something Buonanotte has had to get used to.

The 18-year-old admitted it has taken time to adapt to England and its football.

He said: “To be honest, I thought it would be a bit easier than it was.

“Everybody told me it would be a tough process and to be prepared, to be calm.

“In your head you think, ‘No, it will be a bit easier than they say’.

“However, I am here and there are lots of things to adapt to, not just the football.

“The first thing I noticed was the time you have here. You don’t have any time!

“You receive the ball and you’ve already got an opponent biting away at your ankle.

“In Argentina, it’s similar but it’s slower, in general.

“The game, the speed of the ball, the physical impact - here it is all a lot quicker.

“It’s not like how it looks on the TV. On TV the game looks slower.

“When you go out on to the pitch and you’re playing, it’s 1,000km an hour.”

Buonanotte will hope for a chance to help Albion try to upset Arsenal tomorrow.

He is aware points have been dropped in recent draws and said: “The main things is we are struggling to be at 100% from the first minute.

“We have gifted a few minutes and here you can’t gift anything.

“We are creating chances but you need to take them as well.

“In the last game, we had a lot of chances but we couldn’t convert.

“Also, the Burnley goalkeeper saved everything so credit to him.

“The main thing is to be at 100% from the first minute and we all see that.”

And to enjoy it. That is a message Roberto De Zerbi has been hammering home.

Buonanotte said: “I really like Roberto as a coach.

“The first thing he tells us is we have to play and enjoy it.

“I think he is right because, if you don’t enjoy playing football, it’s not for you.

“He always gives you options to be able to improve your play, obviously to win and to be able to beat the opponent in the best way possible.

“Of course, you want to win but I think winning when playing well is an even better feeling.

“This is what Roberto generates.

“He has helped me a lot in all aspects, especially as someone who is young and just starting a career in Europe.

“He focuses on me and that is good because he knows I can do more and that is really nice and I thank him a lot.”