Benfica win and move into Taca semis

Benfica defeated Braga 1-0 at the Estadio da Luz in Taca de Portugal quarter-final action and advance to the two leg semi-final stage where they will take on fourth division side Tirsense as they look to move into the Finals of the competition and capture their 30th title.

The game score line was flattering to Braga who failed to get a shot on target the entire game and attempted four shots in total over the 90 minute encounter. Benfica's marker came from red hot striker Vangelis Pavlidis in the first half when he took a pass from newly acquired wing back Samuel Dahl and beat Braga keeper Lukas Hornicek into the low right corner.

Benfica will face Tirsense in April with the first leg going between April 1 to 3 and the second leg tentatively set to go between April 22 to 24. Benfica's potential opponents if they were to make the Finals would be Rio Ave or the Sporting/Gil Vicente winner.

 

Benfica end postive week with tie atop Portugal

After advancing to the round of 16 in the Champions League earlier in the week, they will now face Barcelona. Benfica then went into their Week 23 game against Boavista and played one of their better games of the season earning a victory, couple that with a Sporting draw and they are now leveled in points atop Portugal.

Benfica goes now into this week's quarter-final encounter with Braga in the Taca de Portugal on a positive note and full of confidence as they look to move into the semi-final stage. Benfica's winter transfer acquisitions have so far had a positive impact with the club, with Bruma, Andrea Belotti and Samuel Dahl all contributing to the club's success since arriving in Lisbon.

 

Benfica find out Champions League opponents and path to Finals

Benfica will face Barcelona once again in this season's edition of the Champions League as the two clubs get set to face one another in the round of 16. The two leg affair will take place on March 5 and 11 with the first leg game taking place at Benfica's Estadio da Luz. 

Benfica and Barcelona had a memorable league phase game that some say was the game of the competition, a game that Barcelona came back from two goals down on two occasions to defeat Benfica 5-4 in controversial finish in injury time.

The path to the Finals has been all but drawn out today and the winner of this tie will take on the victor's of the Borussia Dortmund and Lille clash in quarter-final action. One of Inter Milan, Feyenoord, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen will await the club that makes it to the semi-final stage on their way to Munich and the Champions League Final.