Monday, July 19, 2021

Rui Vitoria's Spartak first test in Champions League qualification

Benfica Blog
Benfica's quest to land in the Champions League group stage and all the millions that are involved for qualifying for UEFA's premier club event is set to kick off against former bench boss Rui Vitoria's Spartak Moscow. Benfica found out their opponents in the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League earlier today in Nyon, Switzerland and are set to face the Russian side on either August 3/4 in Moscow and August 10 in Lisbon.

A win by Benfica will move them into the final playoff which will put them one tie away from the group stage while a loss will see the club fall into the Europa League group stage for a second straight season. Rui Vitoria managed Benfica from the summer of 2015 until he was let go midway through the 2018/19 season. Vitoria won two Portuguese League titles along with a Taca de Portugal, League Cup and Super Cup in his time at the helm.

Benfica and Spartak's only other encounter in UEFA action came in the Group Stage of the 2012/13 Champions League which saw both clubs win at home in their two games played. Benfica finished 3rd in the group that year and went all the way to the Europa League finals were they lost 2-1 to Chelsea on a heartbreaking additional time goal.

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