Benfica need to drop Di Maria if they are to win title

In another time, the Angel di Maria signing would have been a coup by a Portuguese club, but in 2024, the signing is looking more and more like a waste of resources as Benfica continue to struggle to develop play when the 36 year old Argentinian is on the field.

Di Maria's pace of play looks more suitable to be applied in North America's Major League Soccer or the Saudi Pro League, but in the Portuguese League it is too slow and at many times, proves costly in the Eagles developing a fast attacking pace. A club of Benfica's stature can not continue to struggle to find the goal against the minnows of the world but this is what we are witnessing regularly with this slow build up.

Now, this is not to say that Di Maria has not had his share of brilliant moments this season; he has, but for a club that continues to funnel an attack constantly through him when he is on the field, more often than not, that attack has often stalled. This cannot continue if Benfica has any hopes of capturing the Portuguese League title when the season wraps.

With a pair of big games coming up against league leaders Sporting over the next eight days. The club's title hopes could be all but over come next Saturday. Benfica travels to Alvalade on April 6th, needing a win in league action to close the gap on Sporting, but before that, they will host their crosstown rivals at the Luz in the second leg of the Taca de Portugal semi-final, in which they go in trailing after the first leg 2-1.

Benfica manager Roger Schmidt is also at fault in this disorganized bunch with his constant insistence on playing players out of positions they are most comfortable in to succeed, but here is hoping that maybe, just maybe, he sees what we all can see when Di Maria is on the pitch, but knowing the German.... he seems more the willing to go down with the sinking ship. Let's see how it all plays out

 

Benfica to return to action on Holy Day

Benfica will host Chaves on Good Friday as the club goes into the final stretch of the season looking to capture the Portuguese league title for the second consecutive season. Benfica has eight contests left and trails league leaders Sporting by one point, although their club rival has a game in hand and could stretch the lead to four points.

Benfica will travel to Alvalade to take on Sporting in a Week 28 clash that could all but decide this season's champion. A victory by Benfica could go  a long way in putting pressure on Sporting, which will still need to face nemesis FC Porto at the Dragao at the end of next month. Benfica are also still alive in the Europa League, so they will have more games on the docket than their competitors.

Taarabt says he and Vitoria were not fond of one another

Former Benfica midfielder Adel Taarabt, who is currently in the UAE playing for Al-Nasr, recalled his time at the club during a recent interview with the national news in the UAE. Taarabt admitted that he had no interest in joining Benfica at first, but it was the insistence of former club President Luis Felipa Vieira, who offered Taarabt a five year contract after spending four hours with the midfielder, that changed his mind.

Taarabt, who is now 34 years old, also mentioned his cold relationship with former Benfica coach Rui Vitoria, stating that the two were not fond of one another during their time together, which all started in the summer of 2015 when the Moroccan international arrived at Vitoria's first camp in charge 17 pounds overweight. 

The former Benfica bench boss went on to punish Taarabt by not giving him a minute of playing time during his first camp at the club and went as far as not even saying good morning. Taarabt's career at Benfica did get better as he went on to appear in 129 contests for the club across all competitions, scoring twice while providing fourteen helpers.