Benfica will face Monaco in Champions League Playoff

Benfica will face Monaco in the Champions League playoff for a place in the round of 16 in what will be an interesting two leg affair. The first leg of the match up will take place on February 12 in Monaco in a rematch of game 5 of the league phase in which Benfica came from behind to win 3-2. While the second leg will be back at the Luz a week later on February 18.

The winner of this contest will face either Liverpool or Barcelona in the round of 16 and pocket €11M for advancing to the next round. League rivals Sporting have been drawn to face Borussia Dortmund while FC Porto will take on Roma in the Europa League.

Benfica will find out Champions League opponents tomorrow

Benfica came off a big victory in Italy over Juventus yesterday to earn a spot in the Champions League playoff on the last day of this revamped competition. There next opponents will be learned on the 31st of January.

Benfica ended up finishing 16th in the 36 team league and will find out tomorrow who their opponents are in the next round of games which will be a home and home encounter all the way until the one game final.

Benfica will be drawn against French clubs Monaco or Brest tomorrow with the winner of the two leg set moving on to face either Liverpool or Barcelona in the round of 16.

Benfica will earn €1M for making the playoff round to add on top of the €9.1M that they earned over the eight league games and the €18.6M for qualifying for the league phase. While €11M await the club if they are to advance to round of 16.

 

Benfica to test Genk resolve on leading scorer

Benfica have started to look around with the hopes of adding another striker to replace Arthur Cabral who is looking likely to join M.L.S. club Atlanta United. The American side have been aggressive in their pursuit of the Brazilian striker and now are rumoured to be ready to go as high as $18M for his services.

Reports coming from Africa state that Benfica have turned their attention to the Belgian Pro League's leading scorer, Tolu Arokodare. The Genk striker has scored fourteen goals in league play while providing six helpers in 23 games of action while chipping in another two goals and an assist in Belgian Cup play. 

The Nigerian striker has been with Genk since joining from French side Amiens in the winter of 2023 for €5M and is in the middle of his best season as a pro player. Genk are said to be hesitant to move on from the 24 year old who has been a key member of their first place squad.

Benfica are hoping to test the resolve of the Belgian club and are said to have made an initial offer of €10M for Tolu's services, but Genk is said to be looking for close to double that amount if they are to move on from their current starting striker.

With the transfer window set to close for most leagues next week, look for Benfica to press forward for a striker if they are to lose Cabral.