Saturday, October 31, 2020
Jorge Jesus has talk with Gabriel about attitude
Thursday, October 29, 2020
Benfica score flurry of second half goals in Europa League win
In a surprising move striker Waldschmidt would step up to take the penalty instead of regular spot taker Pizzi and the young German did not disappoint burying the ball into the high top right corner. Benfica would add one more just ten minutes later as Pizzi would score his second of the game off a deflected that would get past the keeper. This game would also mark Diogo Goncalves' debut in the right back spot, a position that the 23 year old has been working on during training since the arrival of Jesus to the club. Benfica will next host Rangers in a battle for top spot in their respective group on November 5.
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Alex Grimaldo done for the year with injury
Sunday, October 25, 2020
Benfica getting ready to host fans for first time since pandemic
Thursday, October 22, 2020
Its Darwin, Darwin, Darwin in Europa League action
Poznan brought the game to level just six minutes later when a low left footed shot from striker Mikael Ishak inside the six yard box found the bottom left corner. Benfica would regain the lead just before the half when right back Gilberto's cross found the head of striker Darwin Nunez as the Uruguayan scored his first goal in Benfica colours and first in a European competition. The lead was once agian short lived as just two minutes into the start of the second half Ishak would strike once again on a rebound to level the game 2-2.
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Benfica squad for Lech Poznan Europa League clash
Keepers - Vlachodimos, Helton Leite, Mile Svilar
Defenders- Alex Grimaldo, Nicolas Otamendi, Jan Vertonghen, Gilberto, Nuno Tavares, Jardel, Ferro
Midfielders- Gabriel, Pizzi, Julian Weigl, Pedrinho, Taarabt, Everton, Chiquinho, Franco Cervi, Diogo Goncalves, Rafa Silva
Forwards- Darwin Nunez, Seferovic, Waldschmidt, Goncalo Ramos
Monday, October 19, 2020
Andre Almeida suffers serious injury to knee
Friday, October 16, 2020
Benfica in talks with Gremio for striker loan move
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
Benfica players registered for Europa League
Benfica registered the following 25 players with UEFA for the round of games along with a B list:
Keepers: Vlachodimos, Helton Leite, Mile Svilar, Samuel Soares*
Defenders: Andre Almeida, Gilberto, Otamendi, Jan Vertonghen, Ferro, Jardel, Todibo, Alex Grimaldo, Nuno Tavares, Frimpong*, Tomas Araujo*, Joao Ferreira*, Pedro Ganches*, Filipe Cruz*
Midfielders: Pizzi, Gabriel, Taarabt, Julian Weigl, Rafa Silva, Everton, Pedrinho, Franco Cervi, Diogo Goncalves, Paulo Bernardo*, Umaro Embalo*, Tiago Araujo *, Rafael Brito*, Ronaldo Camara*
Forwards: Darwin Nunez, Seferovic, Waldschmidt, Goncalo Ramos*, Henrique Araujo*
* Notes B List player
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Fixtures
October 22 at Lech Poznan
October 29 vs Standard Liege
November 5 vs Rangers
November 22 at Rangers
December 3 vs Lech Poznan
December 10 at Standard Liege
Monday, October 12, 2020
Benfica have not given up on Santos defender
Saturday, October 10, 2020
Gremio intersted in Benfica's Franco Cervi
Thursday, October 8, 2020
Could Facundo Ferreyra get another chance at Benfica?
With Benfica unable to find a squad to take on striker Facundo Ferreyra, the Eagles have registered the 29 year old Argentinian with the league as the club moves forward with the season. Ferreyra was acquired by Benfica on a free transfer in the summer of 2018 after he had just finished a 28 goal campaign with Ukraine champions Shakhtar Donetsk but Ferreyra's time at Benfica was short lived with the player appearing in only nine games across all competitions, scoring once before departing on an eighteen month loan deal with Espanyol.
Ferreyra did not fair much better in his loan spell scoring nine times in 36 games across all competitions with six of those goals coming in Europa League qualifying against lesser opponents. The former Ukrainian golden boot winner seems to have lost confidence and form but could he be another Jorge Jesus reclamation project? Although Ferreyra's league registration could be just a formality, Ferreyra is currently striker number four on the clubs depth chart and an injury or two could see Ferreyra back on the pitch with the club.
Ferreyra will arrive from Barcelona were he was awaiting a move and work at the training center were he should be presented with a training regiment from the technical team as he prepares to rejoin the squad. The striker who earns around €2M per season declined offers to join clubs in the Middle East and China and now awaits a chance to prove to the club, the manager and himself that he is not a has been.
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
Is Jesus to blame for the Seixal exodus?
Many fans recall Jesus' last run with the club and although successful the clubs youth system took a hit in development and reward with many of the academies big names providing a smaller financial return, when you look at Bernardo's and Cancelo's sales, which amounted to a combined €30M. Would the likes of Ruben Dias, Nelson Semedo, Renato Sanches, Victor Lindelof, Goncalo Guedes or Joao Felix have been so successful with the club if Jesus was on the sidelines? Would these six have provided the club with an infusion of €330M in sales with Jesus patrolling the club?
These are all questions that we look at with the current exodus of the academies best players via loan. Benfica have loaned defensive midfielder Florentino Luis to Monaco, winger Jota to Real Valladolid, right back Tomas Tavares to Alaves, center back Pedro Alvaro to Belenenses, attacking midfielder David Tavares to Moreirense and the clubs most talented prospect Tiago Dantas to Bayern Munich with the last loan deal unknown if a buy clause is included or not. The clubs current crown jewel, striker Goncalo Ramos is still with the club but will he be utilized or squandered by Jesus, this question is still unknown and the answer to this question could see the white towels arrive outside the stadium quicker then any would anticipate and this could be a first for a club that may just be sitting atop the league. So is Jesus to blame for the Seixal exodus? The fans will answer that shortly.
Sunday, October 4, 2020
Benfica center backs look old and broken
Benfica have moved on from their young starting center back and Portugal international this week when Ruben Dias was sold to Man City for €68M. Benfica replaced Dias with a slow aging veteran in Nicolas Otamendi, who got his first start for Benfica alongside another aging veteran in Jardel who was in replacing another aging veteran in Jan Vertonghen who is already out with an injury, suffered in Week 2 of action. Get the idea? The three center backs aged 34 (Jardel), 33 (Vertonghen) and 32 (Otamendi), could make this a very long season for the Lisbon side all on the account of Jesus and his insistence on veteran center backs.
The issue has now gotten more complicated when Jardel was replaced in the second half of today's game by Ferro after suffering another injury to the long list of injuries that have kept the Benfica captain out of the lineup on a regular basis the past few seasons. Ferro who is the only young body at age 23 on this current Benfica squad that plays center back, just only a few weeks ago was being mentioned as a player not needed by Jesus and set to leave the club on loan. Benfica currently have only two center backs healthy in Otamendi and Ferro and will need to look at making a move in the transfer market to shore up the back line with none of its current B squad players ready to play a pivotal role with the club this season.
The one name that continues to be linked to Benfica is former Jesus player Ruben Semedo. The 26 year old Olympiacos defender is said to want to make the move to Benfica but both clubs continue to dance around when it comes to the sale price with Benfica not wanting to get close to the €15M asking price. The club may not have a choice but to bite the bullet as it sits one injury away from having to move Samaris or Weigl to the center back position on a full time basis. Benfica could also look within the Portuguese League with the transfer window remaining open until October 25 in Portugal and turn to Rio Ave's Toni Borevkovic or Famalicao's Riccieli if they are looking to spend under €5M to shore up the spot with a young talented player as the current old and broken center backs seems to be a flawed approach.
Friday, October 2, 2020
Benfica finds out Europa League group
Benfica have learned their Europa League group earlier today and will be joined by Scottish side Rangers, Polish club Lech Poznan and Belgian side Standard Liege. Benfica will kick off their Europa League campaign on October 22 in Poland against Poznan.
Benfica's Europa League schedule:
October 22 at Lech Poznan
October 29 vs Standard Liege
November 5 vs Rangers
November 26 at Rangers
December 3 vs Lech Poznan
December 10 at Standard Liege