Benfica's Champions League struggles continue as they drop another decision in their second group game 3-1 away to Russian side Zenit. Benfica who have won only four games out of their last twenty Champions League group games, really stunk up the joint in this one. The game started with a chance for each side in the first two minutes of the game before the clubs slowed the tempo down for the next 15 minutes. Pizzi would then break out on the left wing but his shot attempt would go right into the arms of Zenit keeper Lunev. A sloppy clearance from Vlachodimos to Fejsa just a couple minutes later would see Zenit open up the scoring as Dzyuba's low shot from an Ozdoev steal sent the striker in alone for the finish. Taarabt would then force Lunev to make another stop as Benfica looked for the equalizer. Zenit's defensive strategy had Benfica's lone striker in the game Seferovic isolated for the majority of the half, while Zenit continued to carve Benfica up and down the right side of the field until the half time whistle.
The second half saw Zenit get a chance to double the lead right off the whistle but Azmoun's shot was defended by Vlachodimos. Dzyuba would have Zenit's next chance as his looping header had Vlachodimos back peddling to make the save. Benfica would then make a double change at the hour mark with Vinicius and Caio Lucas coming in for Pizzi and Fejsa. Zenit though would double their lead when a Karavaev cross towards the back post was bundled by Ruben Dias for an own goal at the 70th minute. Zenit would make it 3-0 just eight minutes later as striker Azmoun would stay onside and round Vlachodimos for a tap in into an empty net. Benfica would get one back when substitute Raul de Tomas would intercept a cheaply cleared ball from the Zenit defense and score a golaco from outside the box for his first goal in Benfica colours but that was as close as the Lisbon would come. Benfica will next play Lyon on October 23 at home as they look for their first win of the campaign and manager Bruno Lage will need to stop coaching this squad like he is Rui Vitoria 2.0, only time will tell.
Benfica have released their squad for
their Champions League group game against Zenit in Russia this upcoming Wednesday. Benfica will look to get back to .500 in group play after losing their opening group game to RB Leipzig, the game is October 2 at 8pm WEST.
They will select 18 players from the list below at game time to
dress.
Keepers- Vlachodimos, Ivan Zlobin, Mile Svilar
Defenders- Ruben Dias, Ferro, Alex Grimaldo, Jardel, Tomas Tavares, Nuno Tavares
Midfielders- Pizzi, Rafa Silva, Caio Lucas, Taarabt, Franco Cervi, Fejsa, Gedson Fernandes, Gabriel
Forwards- Seferovic, Raul de Tomas, Jota, Carlos Vinicius
Benfica have struggled up front to find their form of last season as the move by Joao Felix to Atletico Madrid this summer has left a big hole in the secondary striker spot which has yet to be filled by another player on the current squad. The season is 7 games old but the striker partnership of Seferovic and Raul de Tomas has been a gigantic failure all season, with last seasons leading scorer Seferovic scoring twice in league play and the €20M signing RDT yet to find the back of the net for the Eagles. Bruno Lage has acknowledged as much putting in midfielder Gedson Fernandes in RDT's spot in their last league game against Setubal, hoping that Gedson would provide some Joao Felix magic. Gedson though is not known as a prolific scorer in the way Felix was, so this move could be short lived and Benfica could experiment further with an assortment of players at its disposal.
Carlos Vinicius is one that could be given a longer look in the role along Seferovic, Vinicius has scored twice for Benfica this season while appearing in only 68 minutes of action. Benfica could also look at starting Chiquinho up front in the secondary striker role, once the attacking midfielder returns from injury in October. Benfica manager Bruno Lage has recently admitted that the last few games have been hard for him to watch and knows that the clubs fans expect and deserve better but Lage's style of play requires a mobile moving second striker which the club at this time has yet to find. RDT is more suitable as a central striker and although the club has yet to lose faith in the Spaniard, he may be better suited coming off the bench to substitute a Lage favourite in Seferovic. The season is a long and grueling process but Benfica's title hopes could linger on finding the guy who can play up front along Seferovic and Bruno Lage knows this.
