Rui Vitoria's Spartak first test in Champions League qualification

Benfica's quest to land in the Champions League group stage and all the millions that are involved for qualifying for UEFA's premier club event is set to kick off against former bench boss Rui Vitoria's Spartak Moscow. Benfica found out their opponents in the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League earlier today in Nyon, Switzerland and are set to face the Russian side on either August 3/4 in Moscow and August 10 in Lisbon.

A win by Benfica will move them into the final playoff which will put them one tie away from the group stage while a loss will see the club fall into the Europa League group stage for a second straight season. Rui Vitoria managed Benfica from the summer of 2015 until he was let go midway through the 2018/19 season. Vitoria won two Portuguese League titles along with a Taca de Portugal, League Cup and Super Cup in his time at the helm.

Benfica and Spartak's only other encounter in UEFA action came in the Group Stage of the 2012/13 Champions League which saw both clubs win at home in their two games played. Benfica finished 3rd in the group that year and went all the way to the Europa League finals were they lost 2-1 to Chelsea on a heartbreaking additional time goal.

Benfica linked to yet another midfielder

With the struggle in obtaining Braga midfielder Al Musrati, Benfica are looking for alternatives to add to their midfield and are now linked to Torino midfielder Soualiho Meite who spent the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan. Having secured Joao Mario earlier in the week, Benfica are hoping to land one more midfielder for Jorge Jesus' squad who can play in the number 6 position.

Meite is just another name on a long list of midfielders linked to the club this summer which has included Willian Arao, Steven Nzonzi along with Musrati. Meite has been a member of Torino since the summer of 2018 when he joined from Monaco for €11.5M. Meite appeared in 37 games across all competitions last season between Torino and AC Milan, scoring once while setting up four goals.

Benfica linked to Diego Costa once again

Benfica are once again being linked with Spanish striker Diego Costa who has been without club since January of this year after mutually agreeing to part ways with Atletico Madrid. According to Spanish publication AS, Costa is intrigued by a return to Portugal, were he spent time in 2006 and 2007 as a member of Braga and Penafiel.

The 32 year old striker prefers a move to join Benfica and although reports state that Benfica reached an agreement with the striker months ago, it is said to depend on the clubs qualification for the Champions League this season. The Brazilian born Spanish International has spent most of his playing career in Spain with a spell in between in England with Chelsea, but has spent a lot of time the past few seasons injured.

Benfica might be wise to avoid a move for Costa due to this fact, as the club currently has Haris Seferovic, Carlos Vinicius, Luca Waldschmidt, Rodrigo Pinho and the currently injured Darwin Nunez along with youngster Goncalo Ramos in a crowded striker position. The club would be wise to use its resources to fill more important needs in the left and right back positions.