Bayern Munich interested in Benfica's Goncalo

German giants Bayern Munich are once again interested in another Benfica academy graduate after a failed loan move for midfielder Tiago Dantas last season, this time the apple of their eye is Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos. Bayern met last week with Ramos' agent Jorge Mendes before the two clubs encounter in the Champions League and let their interest in the 20 year old developed at Benfica's famous Seixal academy be known.

Ramos is working to earn regular minutes with Benfica and has appeared in 14 games for the club this season across all competitions. Ramos has yet to score but has provided two helpers in his 642 minutes of action. Ramos in his short career has appeared in 27 games with Benfica across all competitions scoring six goals while setting up an additional three. Benfica signed Ramos to a five year contract in the fall of 2020 which includes a €120M buy out clause.

Benfica escape Vizela with a win

Benfica went to Caldas da Vizela knowing full well that they would need a victory to remain a top Portugal as rivals FC Porto and Sporting were both victorious on Saturday. Newly promoted Vizela was a tough nut to crack defensively and actually produced a few scares in the first half before Benfica took full control of the game in the second, but it was not until an 11th hour goal by Rafa Silva finishing off a Pizzi pass that would give the visiting Eagles a much needed 1-0 victory in what was the final play of the game. Benfica have struggled to score since their victory over Barcelona four games ago and head into there Taca da Liga midweek encounter against Guimaraes, with move questions then answers.

Rui Costa asks players to hold heads up

Newly appointed Benfica President Rui Costa made his way Wednesday night to the Benfica locker room after the clubs disappointing loss in Champions League action to Bayern Munich to tell the players in the Eagles shirts to hold their heads up and move forward with encouraging words. The former player is well aware that at the end of a match that does not go your way the best way to get past the feelings of sadness and frustration is to look towards the clubs next match, which takes place on the road on Sunday when Benfica travel to take on Vizela in league action.

Benfica have now struggled in their last three games, losing two of the games at home after a morale boosting victory over Spanish giants Barcelona and cling to a slim one point advantage a top the Portuguese league after eight games of play.

Benfica collapse in final twenty minutes in loss to Bayern

Benfica suffered their first loss of their Champions League campaign at home to Bayern Munich 4-0 after holding off the German powerhouse scoreless for the first seventy minutes of the game. Benfica and Bayern went into the half scoreless as Bayern missed some good opportunities from Lewandowski and Coman, Benfica did respond with a glorious chance from Darwin Nunez that was turned aside by Bayern keeper Neuer. Benfica got a scare just before the half when Lewandowski though he had opened the scoring for the visitors but a VAR review negated the goal after a handball was spotted.

The second half saw VAR come into play once again against Bayern just eight minutes into the half as a Muller goal was called back after Coman was caught offside in the build up to the goal. Benfica seemed destined to open the scoring after a couple of chances the first by Diogo Goncalves' who's left footed shot was put over the bar by an outstretched Neuer. Yaremchuk then had his superb individual effort go inches wide of the left post as the hosts pressed to open the scoring.

Bayern would take the game by the horns at the seventy minute when a Leroy Sane free kick from 25 yards found the top right corner of the net. Bayern pressed on and scored again at the eighty minute mark with an own goal by substitute Everton. Bayern striker Lewandowski would add his name to the scoresheet just two minutes later and Sane would get his second of the game just two minutes after that as Bayern did all their damage within fourteen minutes of the second half on their way to their third straight victory of the campaign. Benfica remain second in the group with three games left until the round of 16.

                                         STATS

                 Benfica                                Bayern Munich                                            

                     35%        Ball Possession           65%

                      8              Total shots               21 

                      8           Chances created          16

                     213        Accurate Passes          483

                      4                Corners                   3 

                      0                Offsides                   7

                      3            Shots on Target            7 

Rodrigo Pinho's season comes to an end

Benfica striker Rodrigo Pinho's season has come to an end after the 30 year old had surgery earlier today to repair a rupture in his left anterior cruciate ligament at a Lisbon hospital. Pinho joined Benfica this summer as a free agent after spending four seasons with Madeira club Maritimo, he appeared in only three league games for Benfica this season scoring one goal against Santa Clara in a rare start. The season ending injury to Pinho and with Swiss striker Seferovic also out, the club is down to three strikers at this time.

Benfica suffer double injury blow in Taca win

Benfica escaped their Taca de Portugal third round encounter against Trofense with a 2-1 victory in additional extra time after receiving a scare from the second division side. What Benfica was unable to escape the game with was injuries which were suffered in the game by starting left back Gil Dias and followed by his replacement Lazaro just twenty minutes after coming onto the pitch. Both players suffered muscle injuries on their left legs and join Rodrigo Pinho, Gedson Fernandes and Haris Seferovic in the infirmary.

Darwin Nunez named player of the month

Benfica striker Darwin Nunez was announced today as the Portuguese League player of the month for September after scoring 4 goals in three games of action. The 22 year old was also named the forward of the month joining teammate Joao Mario who was announced as the midfielder of the month. Club manager Jorge Jesus also picked up the manager of the month award handed out by the Portuguese League this week. Nunez has had a hot start to the year scoring 6 goals across all competitions over 8 games.

Benfica getting ready for Taca 3rd round game

Benfica get set to return to action this weekend in the Taca de Portugal as the club travels to take on second division side Trofense in third round action on Saturday. Look for manager Jorge Jesus to start a host of players who have seen little to no action this season. Benfica are coming off their first loss of the season a disappointing 1-0 result at the Estadio da Luz against Portimonense and will look to rebound at the expense of this weekends opponent.

Rui Costa elected as 34th President of Benfica

Rui Costa has been elected as the 34th President of Benfica after receiving about 90% of the vote from more then 40,000 ballots cast in today's election. Costa has been the acting President of the club since the resignation of former club President in July and has now been given his own mandate for the next four years by the clubs members.

The 49 year old who came through Benfica's youth system appeared in 121 games with the club across all competitions through two stints in a career that included stops at Fiorentina and AC Milan. The Portuguese International was also capped 94 times by the national side in a long and glorious career that saw him collect numerous trophies including the 2002-03 Champions League title while at Milan.

Benfica hold debate for new President

Benfica club members will elect a new President for the club on Saturday and for the first time in more then two decades the club held a Presidential debate between the two candidates Rui Costa and Francisco Benitez last night as both men look to succeed Luis Filipe Vieira who resigned during the summer after being arrested and accused of economic and financial crimes with the case awaiting a trial date.

The debate was held on Benfica TV and some of the candidates key messages were:

Rui Costa - prefers to keep things as they are, amid the clubs success on and off the field over the past decade with league titles and players sales. Costa plans to work with a group of people on everything Benfica.

Francisco Benitez - wants to change the structure of the SAD and install more directors on the football side to assist in making club decisions. Benitez also prefers that all directors are Benfica fans.

Both candidates did agree that holding onto youth players who develop at Seixal longer would be an advantage in competitive play and potentially add more to the coffers at a later date as these players values rise.

 

Rafa Silva dropped from Portugal squad with injury

Benfica forward Rafa Silva has been dropped by the Portuguese national side after failing his medical as the Selecao prepare for a friendly and World Cup 2022 qualifier over the next week. Rafa is reported to have suffered a right gonalgia injury in Benfica's game on Sunday against Portimonense, which is the swelling and bruising of his right knee, the timeline on how long Rafa will be out is reported to be about a week or two. Rafa joins Haris Seferovic and Valentino Lazaro in Benfica's infirmary, who are also out with muscle injuries.

Benfica perfect run comes to an end

On a night where across Europe some of the continent's top clubs suffered losses in their respective leagues, Benfica had their perfect start to the season come to an abrupt end at the hands of Portimonense 1-0 in front of their largest crowd since the start of the pandemic. Benfica remains in top spot in the league but have had their lead cut to just one point as the league rests for upcoming international play.

Benfica had chance after chance turned away in the first half by Portimonense keeper Samuel who had seven saves on the net and after coming off one of their biggest victories in many seasons over Barcelona during the week. Benfica looked to just run out of gas in the second half conceding a corner kick at the 65th minute mark. The loss is Benfica's first in a competitive match since losing in the final of the Taca de Portugal in May of this year.

Darwin on way to becoming most wanted man in Europe

Benfica acquired Darwin Nunez from second division side Almeria last summer for a club record €24M and the though was that the club had found a diamond in the rough but although Nunez's season started off well, injuries and inconsistency plagued his first campaign with the Lisbon side. The 22 year old appeared in 44 games across all competitions with the club scoring 14 goals while setting up another 12 but Nunez scored just 2 goals for the club from mid February on.

Fast forward to the 2021/22 season and the 22 year old seems to have found his place in a front trio with newly acquired striker Roman Yaremchuk and Portuguese speedster Rafa Silva. Nunez has scored six goals in his first seven games and none more impressive then his brace performance against Barcelona in this past weeks Champions League, which caught the attention of many of Europe's top clubs. Benfica have already stated that Darwin will go no where during the season but can the club resist the millions that will be thrown it's way during the summer transfer months?

It is not expected that Darwin will keep up his torrid pace to start the season but a more consistent performance could see the youngster become the second all time highest player sold by the club when the summer of 2022 arrives. Nunez has already been linked with clubs, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan and Inter in the past week and it is likely that more of Europe's big names will be added as the season progresses. Darwin's age and field position could be worth a range of €60M-€80M, a hefty amount that Benfica could add to it's coffers and strengthen the clubs finances, but for now let us sit back and enjoy the performance of the Uruguayan who is slowly becoming Europe's most wanted man.