Benfica advance to round of 32 in Europa League

Benfica have advanced to the round of 32 after their convincing 4-0 win over Polish side Lech Poznan in round five of six group games to be played. All that is left to be decided now is who will finish on top of the group as Benfica and Scottish club Rangers both sit with identical records of three wins, two draws and zero losses going into next Thursday's set of games. Rangers currently hold the tie breaker for top spot based on away goals after both clubs played to a pair of draws head to head but the game played in Lisbon ended 3-3 giving Rangers the current advantage. Benfica's victory today saw Jan Vertonghen open the scoring for his first goal in a Benfica uniform and also saw Pizzi and Darwin Nunez chip in their fifth goals of the competition to sit one back of the current league leader. Julian Weigl would finish the scoring for the club on the night and Benfica now go into their last group game against Standard Liege with the option to rest some of their regulars who have been averaging two games a week between their UEFA and league commitments.

Santos playing hard ball with Benfica for defender

Benfica continue to negotiate with Santos for the services of central defender Lucas Verissimo as the Brazilian side play hard ball to drive up the price of the 25 year old. Santos' board was not impressed by the offer received from Benfica President Luis Filipe Vieira in his recent visit to Brazil last week looking to close the deal for the defender. Santos' board informed Vieira that they favoured a bid made from Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr which surpassed Benfica's reported bid of €6.5M but Verissimo has made it known to the club that he will only depart Brazil for a European league club and is not interested in a move to the middle east, complicating matters of any move being made outside of that region. Benfica do not look interested in increasing their bid for Verissimo and are open to switching targets and moving onto Flamengo defender Leo Pereira if negotiations with Santos continue to stall.

Benfica roster for Maritimo encounter

Benfica look to get back to winning ways after a bit of a tailspin the last two games after five straight victories to start the league season. As the club currently sits in fourth spot but can move back into third with a victory over Maritimo in Madeira. Benfica will play Maritimo today at 7pm WEST and they will dress 20 players from the list below.

Keepers- Vlachodimos, Mile Svilar, Helton Leite

Defenders- Diogo Goncalves, Alex Grimaldo, Otamendi, Vertonghen, Jardel, Gilberto, Joao Ferreira

Midfielders- Chiquinho, Pizzi, Franco Cervi, Rafa Silva, Samaris, Everton, Gabriel

Forwards- Waldschmidt, Seferovic, Goncalo Ramos, Facundo Ferreyra