Benfica President Luis Filipe Vieira lashed out at the club after another poor performance by the squad upon their return to action from a long layoff due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Benfica who at the end of January looked to be running away with the league title, took a turn for the worse and not even a break has gotten the club back in gear. The Benfica President addressed the club and let them know that he expects more commitment, desire and emotion in their play as he looks to win another league championship. Vieiria had a long conversation with manager Bruno Lage and expects some sort of changes to snap this funk.
Benfica players feel that the timing of the criticism are both unfair and untrue especially after the clubs bus was stoned, sending Julian Weigl and Zivkovic to hospital with minor injuries. The homes of manager Bruno Lage, Pizzi, Rafa Silva and Alex Grimaldo were also vandalized with vulgar graffiti spray painted on the property gates and walls. The world lock down due to COVID-19 has had emotional and psychological effects to many people across the world which could explain the extreme outbursts after only one game of action. Those responsible for this violence need to find better outlets or seek medical help to deal with any emotional trauma suffered during this unfortunate times and avoid harming the squad or their families.
Benfica's return to action after a long lay off due to the current COVID-19 pandemic did not present much of a change from when they last played with the club dropping points once again to Tondela in a scoreless draw, a club currently fighting relegation. Benfica have now dropped points in three straight league games with all those encounters ending in draws and have earned 6 of a possible 18 points in their last six league games but somehow still sit tied with FC Porto atop the Portuguese league.
Benfica can thank Famalicao who handed Porto a loss in their return to action yesterday for even moving into the tie for top spot, although Porto do hold the tiebreaker. Benfica's form has been so poor of late that some might wonder if Bruno Lage should renew his library card and get some books on tactics as last seasons all world manager doesn't seem to know the difference between a watermelon and a banana right now. Lage is slowly looking like a manager that made one right move last season and that was inserting Joao Felix into a regular role with the club.
Benfica return to action after a long lay off due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will play Tondela in Week 25 action at an empty Estadio da Luz. Benfica will be looking to take advantage of FC Porto's loss to Famalicao in their first game to leap frog the current league leaders for top spot in the league. Benfica will play Tondela today
at 7:15pm WEST
and
they will dress 18 players from the list below.
Keepers- Vlachodimos, Mile Svilar, Ivan Zlobin
Defenders- Tomas Tavares, Alex Grimaldo, Ruben Dias, Ferro, Nuno Tavares, Andre Almeida, Jardel
Midfielders- Chiquinho, Pizzi, Taarabt, Franco Cervi, Rafa Silva, Samaris, Florentino, Julian Weigl, Gabriel
Forwards- Carlos Vinicius, Jota, Dyego Sousa, Seferovic
