Benfica went down to Setubal for Week 24 action and when the final whistle blew, the club left with another 1-1 draw and more questions then answers as they dropped points once again in league play. Benfica who have just one victory across all competitions in their last eight games, look like a club that is out of ideas while manager Bruno Lage who just over a year ago was the clubs savior and to some the greatest manager ever seems to have lost his creativity to get this club going as he searches for answers with the season on the line. Benfica for the second week in a row escaped with a draw thanks to Pizzi penalty conversation but the midfielder would later go on to miss another from the spot, his second miss in as many weeks costing the club a chance at all three points. Striker Carlos Vinicius has also been bitten with the bug scoring just one goal in his last seven competitive games. Benfica luckily stayed within a point of league leaders FC Porto who failed to capitalize and move up by three points drawing themselves at home against Rio Ave. What has happened to the club who coming into February was on a 16 game unbeaten run across all competitions and held a seven point lead atop Portugal? Joao Felix has been gone all season but the club has been missing his presence having not found an adequate replacement.
Benfica's tail spin has finally cost them top spot after another poor outing against Morereinse in Week 23, the Eagles travel to Setubal hoping to get their season and title hopes back on trap. Benfica will play Setubal today
at 6pm WEST
and
they will dress 18 players from the list below.
Keepers- Vlachodimos, Mile Svilar
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, Jota, Dyego Sousa
Benfica is struggling along in the second half of the season but one player that has continued to excel in this time of sorrow for the club and its fans is recently named Benfica footballer of the year Pizzi. The 30 year old accepted the award as the clubs best player at Benfica's recent gala on Wednesday night, Pizzi has scored 25 goals this season and assisted on 13 others across all competitions and is slowly climbing the charts of all time goal scorers at the "New" Estadio da Luz. Pizzi has scored 44 goals at his home stadium and currently sits third all time with only Oscar Cardozo's 105 goals and Jonas' 92 goals ahead of him. The "New" Luz has been the clubs home stadium since opening in October 2003 as the centerpiece of newly built and renovated stadiums for Euro 2004. Pizzi who has been a member of Benfica since the summer of 2013 when the club acquired him from Atletico Madrid has surpassed the likes of Simao, Nuno Gomes, Lima and Salvio to move into the third all time spot. Benfica are hoping the Pizzi's form will rub off on the squad as they look to right the ship in their run for the Portuguese League title.
