Benfica opens residential academy in Tampa, Florida

Benfica is taking their world class academy set up abroad as the club gets set to open a residential academy in the Tampa, Florida area. The academy will be located at the state of the art campus of Saint Leo University and be a co-educational academy that will provide a balanced approach to athletic and academic excellence for grades 9 to 12.

Benfica's goal is to become a global leader in youth soccer development. The campus will have 6 soccer fields, a 59,000 square foot wellness center and span 297 acres. Benfica will provide ever academy player with a nutritional plan, an educational goal and provide a social focus on human values.

On the educational side, Benfica will team up with Bishop McLaughlin High School which is a private school for their academy players to attend. The school boost's both a 100% graduation rate and a 100% college acceptance rate.   

Benfica win over Monaco behind Di Maria magic

Benfica traveled to Monaco to take on the French League side as they looked to get their Champions League campaign back on track after posting back to back losses in the competition.

The game did not start the way Benfica had hoped as Monaco jumped out to an early lead behind a goal from Ben Seghir just thirteen minutes into the contest. Benfica were the stronger side of the first half but could not capitalize on some great scoring opportunities as the game went into the half with Monaco leading.

Benfica would equalize the game on a blunder by Caio Henrique just three minutes into the second half as Vangelis Pavlidis capitalized on the error. Monaco would score just two minutes later, but VAR called the goal back offside. Benfica then thought they had taken the lead at the fifty-four minute mark, but Alexander Bah's goal was disallowed on an offside during the buildup for the goal.

The game would change complexions as Monaco center back Singo would receive his second yellow of the game after a hard challenge on striker Pavlidis as both players challenged for a ball in the air, but it was Monaco who would score just nine minutes after going down a man with Magassa finding the back of the net.

Angel di Maria would then step up and work his magic to provide two spectacular crosses into the box that would find the heads of striker Arthur Cabral at the 84th minute and forward Zeki Amdouni at the 88th minute mark to give Benfica the advantage.

Amdouni could have had Benfica breathing easier in injury time, but his partial breakaway was bravely stopped by Monaco keeper Majecki. The final whistle would sound just a minute later and Benfica were back in the win column and currently sit in 14th place with three games left in the league phase, with Bologna up next at home on December 11.

 

Benfica have crucial game against Monaco in Champions League

Benfica return to action in the Champions League this week as they look to get their campaign back on track after losing back to back games following two victories to open the competition.

Benfica go into this contest coming off a sparkling performance this weekend in a Taca de Portugal game against Amadora that saw the Eagles handily defeat their city rivals 7-0, a game that saw 36 year old legend Angel di Maria score a hat trick.

Benfica's trip to Monaco will not be an easy one with the French League club in fine form this season and yet to lose a game in the competition, Benfica will need to be on their best if they are to return home with any points from the contest.

Benfica's game plan should be much different then their last trip to Munich, where the club went into the game with the strategy to sit back hoping for an opportunity that never came. Benfica will face Monaco on Wednesday at 8pm WEST.