Benfica continue in their talks with German side Freiburg in regards to landing central defender Robin Koch. The clubs spoke originally during the winter transfer window but were unable to come to an agreement for the 23 year old but with Benfica likely to lose current starting defender Ruben Dias during the summer months the club is looking to shore up a key position. The Eagles feel that Koch is the perfect replacement for Dias but have currently balked at Freiburg's €20M price tag with Benfica willing to go as high as €15M for the German nationals services. Koch joined Freiburg in the summer of 2017 from Kaiserlautern and has appeared in 24 games across all competitions this season scoring once. Koch is also versatile and can be used as a defensive central midfielder starting six of this seasons 24 games in that role. Benfica are hoping an agreement between the clubs can be done quickly with other European clubs also looking at Koch's services.
Benfica head to the Ukraine playing their worse soccer since Bruno Lage took over at the club in the managerial role last January as the club looks to snap a three games winless streak that has seen the club go from a comfortable seven point lead in the league to just one point. Benfica are hoping to get off on the right foot as their Europa League campaign gets under way in the round of 32. Benfica play Shakhtar on Thursday at 5:55pm WEST and
they will dress 18 players from the list below.
Keepers- Vlachodimos, Ivan Zlobin, Mile Svilar
Defenders- Tomas Tavares, Alex Grimaldo, Ruben Dias, Ferro, Nuno Tavares
Midfielders- Chiquinho, Pizzi, Taarabt, Franco Cervi, Rafa Silva, Samaris, Florentino, Davis Tavares
Forwards- Carlos Vinicius, Seferovic, Jota, Dyego Sousa
Benfica's poor form continues in a gut wrenching 1-0 loss at the Estadio da Luz to Braga. Benfica who have now lost two straight league games and are winless in three games for the first time under Bruno Lage when we count their midweek Taca de Portugal game, have turned a potential ten point league lead atop Portugal just last week to a potential one point league lead depending on the result of today's FC Porto-Guimaraes clash. Braga under new manager and former Benfica player Ruben Amorim walked into Lisbon and did something that had not been completed in 65 years in league play and that was earn a victory away from home sending Benfica into crisis mode.
