Benfica's final push for Champions League spot

Benfica enter the final five league games sitting in third spot and hoping to land a coveted place in next seasons Champions League group stage by finishing in the top two places in Portugal which would guarantee the club millions. Benfica are currently four points behind second place FC Porto and ten points behind league leaders Sporting and will need a little help while maintaining a perfect run in their final games.

Benfica have the most difficult five games compared to Sporting and FC Porto, a final five that includes three games against clubs in the top six. This includes games against both clubs in front of them at home and a road game against Guimaraes. Benfica's other two games which are both on the road will take place against Tondela and Nacional. 

All is not lost if Benfica do not finish in the top two but their road to the Champions League becomes all that more difficult having to pass two rounds before earning their place all the while keeping an eye on fourth place Braga who still sit within shooting distance of third place just five points back.

Benfica have had a disappointing season after spending a record hall during the summer transfer window and anything less then a place in the Champions League would be an utter failure to a season with so much promise. Fans can look back at a disappointing ten game league run from December 29th to February 21st which saw the club win only three games and drop fifteen points in the process.

Benfica do not hold their own destiny in their hands but a five for five run with a few dropped points from the clubs ahead could see Benfica leap into second spot and for the dreamers out there a league title when Week 34 comes around in mid May. Let's see what the club has left to give in the final five season games.