Ruiz has been a member of Millonarios since the start of 2021, spending the first year at the club on loan before Millonarios made they move permanent this year with Fortaleza for €310K. Ruiz has appeared in 90 games with Millonarios across all competitions, scoring twelve goals while setting up an additional eighteen.
Friday, September 30, 2022
Benfica linked to Colombian winger
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Fernando Santos does Goncalo Ramos disservice
Santos decided that it was the right call to not dress the 21 year old Ramos who is currently Portugal's highest goal scorer for club this season in a game that might just require Portugal to score a goal or two. Santos instead went with players that he was more familiar with, showing his loyalty, stubbornness and foolishness all by living on past morals.
I am not saying the Ramos should have started for Portugal today but a substitution into the game in the second half was more then warranted for a player who is currently in better form then any of his teammates. Ramos who has currently scored eight goals this season for Benfica while providing six assists has scored three more goals then the next closest player and is on par for assists with one other on the squad.
This alone should have given Santos the nerve to make sure the youngster was at least an option in a game that ultimately required a goal to move onto the tournaments final four stage but alas the choice made was bringing in Joao Felix who just three days ago was unfit to even dress for their game against the Czech Republic. Santos' has time to right his wrong with Ramos who may just be the nations first choice striker when the World Cup rolls around. We will all be watching.
Monday, September 26, 2022
Benfica's future center back duo back in training
Verissimo is making his return after a long lay off that saw the 27 year old out of action since early November 2021 after he suffered a ruptured knee ligament and he is in the last phase of recovery which should see him cleared for game action in about a month. While the 24 year old Victor has recovered from an ankle injury sustained during the summer months, he has yet to appear in any games for Benfica since joining the club from Corinthians in July.
The Brazilian pair look to be the future staple of a Benfica defense for years to come but both will need to earn their spots in the clubs starting eleven with captain Otamendi and youngster Antonio Silva currently holding the fort while providing rock solid defending for the club who are currently on a thirteen game winning streak to start the season.
Friday, September 23, 2022
Benfica learns Taca da Liga opponents
Benfica's Taca da Liga schedule:
at Amadora on November 19
vs Penafiel on November 24
at Moreirense on November 27
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
Benfica at the first International Break
The season still has along long way to go but Benfica are currently in fine form to start the season and Benfica fans will hope that this form earns the club some much needed hardware this season when all is said and done.
A look at some player stats from the first 13 games of the season
Most minutes played:
Vlachodimos 1,170; Alex Grimaldo 1,161; Enzo Fernandez 1,111
Most goals scored:
Goncalo Ramos 8; Rafa Silva 6; Joao Mario 5; David Neres 5
Most assists:
Joao Mario 5; Goncalo Ramos 5; David Neres 5
Most yellow cards:
Rafa Silva 4; Florentino 3; Otamendi 2; Goncalo Ramos 2
Most substitute appearances:
Diogo Goncalves 8; Alexander Bah 7; Henrique Araujo 7
Most penalty kicks taken:
Joao Mario 4
These stats only include League and Champions League group stage
Total shots taken:
Rafa Silva 28; Goncalo Ramos 25; Enzo Fernandez 25
Total passes made:
Enzo Fernandez 870; Otamendi 594; Florentino 582
Total dribbles made:
Rafa Silva 46; David Neres 39; Joao Mario 26
Total interceptions made:
Florentino 23; Otamendo 23; Alex Grimaldo 13
Most Tackles:
Alex Grimaldo 25; Enzo Fernandez 25; Florentino 23
Blocked Shots:
Otamendi 4; Antonio Silva 3; Alexander Bah 2
Most Clearances Made:
Antonio Silva 23; Otamendi 18; Florentino 13
Man of the Match
Joao Mario 2; Alex Grimaldo 2; David Neres 2
League Player Ratings:
Joao Mario 7.63; David Neres 7.60; Alex Grimaldo 7.56
Champions League Player Ratings:
Rafa Silva 8.03; Alex Grimaldo 7.59; Enzo Fernandez 7.38
Saturday, September 17, 2022
Benfica players heading for International duty
Benfica fans will see these players in action over the next couple of weeks.
Portugal - Goncalo Ramos, Joao Mario
Argentina - Nico Otamendi, Enzo Fernandez
Greece - Odysseas Vlachodimos
Denmark- Alexander Bah
Norway- Fredrik Aursenes
Benfica youngsters Antonio Silva, Henriques Araujo and Paulo Bernardo have been called up to represent Portugal's Under 21 squad.
Friday, September 16, 2022
Benfica sign new contract with defender Morato
Morato had finally earned a place in Benfica's starting XI this season under the tutelage of new manager Roger Schmidt before suffering the injury. Morato's play caught the attention of many clubs across Europe and Benfica wasted no time in locking up the Brazilian center back long term and more importantly doubling his existing buy out clause. Morato joined Benfica in the summer of 2019 from Sao Paulo for €7.6M and has spent the majority of his time at the club with the B squad.
Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Benfica's new jewel in the backfield
Silva's play has not gone unnoticed by the clubs hierarchy, earning the player a recent extension on his contract until the summer of 2027. Silva has spent the past eight seasons with Benfica and was a member of last years championship winning UEFA Youth League squad. Manager Roger Schmidt will have some tough decisions to make when Lucas Verissimo, Morato and Joao Victor become healthy options once again but until then we call all enjoy the youngsters play.
Saturday, September 10, 2022
Sporting expecting €30M from Joao Mario move to Benfica
Sporting included the €30M clause in the deal to prevent the Italian club from selling Joao Mario back to a Portuguese club, which they state that both Inter and Joao Mario agreed to at the time of sale. Benfica have been excluded from the current turmoil as the situation makes its way through the judicial system.
Thursday, September 8, 2022
Benfica look to continue perfect start to season
Benfica's longest winning run in all competitions is 18, which happened between December 12, 2020 and March 2, 2011. Benfica's longest league winning run was 29 games which occurred in the 70's from April 9, 1972 to March 11, 1973. The club still holds the European record for most games unbeaten in all competitions when from December 22, 1963 to February 14, 1965, Benfica went 48 games without suffering a loss.
Tuesday, September 6, 2022
Benfica open Champions League with a win
Benfica will now travel to Italy to face Juventus next week in what many believe to be a battle for second spot in the group and a chance for a place in the competitions round of 16 next year. Juventus are coming off a 2-1 loss to group favourites PSG and will not be in a welcoming mode as they will look to end Benfica's current run. Benfica and Juventus are set to battle at the Allianz stadium on September 14.
Sunday, September 4, 2022
Ins and Outs of what Benfica did during the transfer window
Benfica finished the summer transfer window with a positive €65M from what the club earned (€127.3M) and what the club spent (€62.3M), this total does not include the €40M the club will receive from qualifying for the Champions League group stage.
The Breakdown of Benfica's 2022 summer transfer season:
Player Exits:
Darwin Nunez to Liverpool for €75M + add ons
Roman Yaremchuk to Club Brugge for €16M + add ons
Everton to Flamengo for €13.5M
Jota to Celtic for €7.3M
Gedson Fernandes to Besiktas for €6M
Carlos Vinicius to Fulham for €5M
Pedro Pereira to Monza for €2.5M
Nuno Santos to Charlotte for €1M
Haris Seferovic loaned to Galatasaray for €1M
Pizzi to Al Wahda on free transfer
Jan Vertonghen to Anderlecht on free transfer
Mile Svilar to Roma on free transfer
Julian Weigl on loan to Borussia Mochengladbach
Soualiho Meite on loan to Cremonese
Gabriel on loan to Botafogo
Ferro on loan to Vitesse
Tiago Dantas on loan to PAOK
Valentino Lazaro returned to Inter Milan after loan spell
Nemanja Radonjic returned to Marseille after loan spell
Adel Taarabt became free agent
Player Arrivals:
David Neres from Shakhtar Donetsk for €15.3M
Fredrik Aursnes from Feyenoord for €13M
Enzo Fernandez from River Plate for €10M + add ons
Joao Victor from Corinthians for €8.5M
Alexander Bah from Slavia Prague for €8M
Petar Musa from Boavista for €5M
Julian Draxler on loan from PSG for €2.5M
John Brooks signed as free agent previously at Stuttgart
Mihailo Ristic signed as free agent previously at Montpellier
Florentino returned from loan at Getafe
Chiquinho returned from loan at Giresunspor
Henrique Araujo moved up from Benfica B
Samuel Soares moved up from Benfica B
Antonio Silva moved up from Benfica B
Thursday, September 1, 2022
Benfica make flurry of moves at deadline
Benfica announced the acquisition of winger Julian Draxler from PSG who will join the club on a season long loan for €2.5M, PSG will pay 80% of Draxler's salary and the loan does not include a buy option.
Benfica also acquired center back John Brooks on a free transfer, signing the 29 year old American for one season, the move helps shore up the middle of the defense, that thanks to injuries and departures had become rather thin. Brooks spent the past five season with Stuttgart in Germany.
Benfica sent midfielders Julian Weigl and Soualiho Meite out on loan for the season to Borussia Moenchengladbach and Cremonese, both midfielders loans include buy options, Weigl's option is for €15M and Meite's option has yet to be disclosed.
In an unexpected move, Fulham acquired striker Carlos Vinicius from Benfica for €5M, Vinicius was going into the second year of his loan at PSV which ended after the English club's move. Benfica will retain 50% of Vinicius' pass.
Benfica and center back Jan Vertonghen agreed to rescind the players contract, saving the club €3M on the final year of the deal. Vertonghen is already in Brussels and is set to sign with Anderlecht. Benfica did not stop there as the club and Adel Taarabt also mutually agreed to rescind the midfielders contract.
In a move that went under the radar, Benfica acquired center back Ricardo Teixeira from Leixoes for €300K, which gives the club 50% of the 21 year old's pass.
In an almost was move, current number one keeper Vlachodimos was set to join Ajax before the deal was halted at the final moments. Benfica were rumoured to have had a loan move set for PSG keeper Kaylor Navas as the replacement before the deal fell through.