Benfica have added their name along with rivals FC Porto in the chase to land Tondela right back Fahd Moufi. The 23 year old who's current contract expires on June 30 not only has the Portuguese giants interested in his services, with clubs Nantes, Real Betis and Sevilla also in the picture. It's been reported that Porto have already had their first offer to sign Moufi rejected by the French born right back who has been a member of Tondela since the 2017/18 season. Moufi who currently earns €70,000 per season is looking for a substantial raise increase from any potential buyer that is looking to land his services for next season. Moufi has appeared in 40 games across all competitions with Tondela, scoring once and adding one assist but 19 of Moufi's Tondela games have come during this current season. Benfica are interested in adding some insurance to the right back position with current starter Andre Almeida inching closer to 30 years of age and current back up Tomas Tavares yet to hit 19 years of age.
Benfica for the first time in 2020 are currently not in top spot in Portugal and need a victory tomorrow at Barcelos to regain it from FC Porto. Benfica are currently on a four game winless run across all competitions and with a midweek Europa League game on the horizon the club will look for a confidence building win in Week 22 action. Benfica play Gil Vicente tomorrow at 7:30pm WEST and
they will dress 18 players from the list below.
Keepers- Vlachodimos, Ivan Zlobin
Defenders- Tomas Tavares, Alex Grimaldo, Ruben Dias, Ferro, Nuno Tavares
Midfielders- Chiquinho, Pizzi, Taarabt, Franco Cervi, Rafa Silva, Samaris, Florentino, Julian Weigl
Forwards- Carlos Vinicius, Seferovic, Jota, Dyego Sousa
Benfica are now winless in their last four games across all competitions for the first time in the Bruno Lage era and will need to get out of Week 22 with victory to maintain their league lead and to rebuild their confidence heading into the second leg of Europa League action. Benfica started the month on a high with a seven point league atop the Portuguese Liga while on a 17 game undefeated run across all competitions. Benfica's last loss happened in Champions League play to Lyon on November 5th but boy what a difference two weeks can make. Benfica now sit atop Portugal with just a one point lead over second place FC Porto after losing their last two league games and need a victory at home for a chance to advance in Europa League play after losing the first leg on the road to Shakhtar earlier this week. Benfica look like a team out of ideas and a club that is out of gas and needing a spark. Bruno Lage needs to rest players this weekend and also requires a victory but getting back to the basics might just be what the club needs.
Lage should look at giving over used players like Pizzi and Grimaldo a rest this weekend against Gil Vicente and start youngster Nuno Tavares and Chiquinho in their places. Lage should also reinsert Samaris into the starting eleven as the Greek International would give the club the spark from his passionate play, a spark that the club currently lacks.
