Benfica look to add another striker to the fold

Benfica look to not have closed their doors on adding another striker as the club has inquired about Freiburg's Luca Waldschmidt. Benfica have already acquired strikers Raul de Tomas, Jhonder Cadiz and Carlos Vinicius during the summer transfer window to date but are also interested in adding the 2018 Euro U21 leading goal scorer. The 23 year old Waldschmidt arrived at Freiburg last summer from Hamburger for €5.7M and scored nine times across all competitions while appearing in 32 games. The clubs have yet to have any serious discussions about the striker and any talks are at the preliminary stage at this time but Waldshmidt is valued at around the €12M mark.

Nuno Tavares looks set to remain with main squad

Benfica are about to completing their preseason schedule and will be heading back to Portugal from America to prepare for next weekends Super Cup were they will face arch rivals Sporting. Bruno Lage has said all pre-season that he prefers to work with a smaller main squad then what has been seen in seasons past. One youngster that looks set to open the season with the main squad is 19 year old wing back Nuno Tavares. Tavares has been used on both the right and left back positions during pre-season games and should be slotted in as the back up left back to starter Alex Grimaldo. Tavares split last season between Benfica B and the clubs under 19 entry in the UEFA Youth League. Tavares appeared in 19 total games, producing three helpers. Club fans need not worry as Tavares will be set up to play occasional games with the B squad to maintain his match fitness.

The all time appearance leaders in Benfica history

This blog takes a look into Benfica's history of player appearances in all competitions, the Top 40 players of all time in Benfica's over 100 years of history are below.

1.  Nene (1968-1986) Total Appearances: 575
2.  Antonio Veloso (1980-1995) Total Appearances: 538
3.  Luisao (2003-2018) Total Appearances: 538
4.  Mario Coluna (1954-1970) Total Appearances: 525
5.  Humberto Coelho (1968-1975) (1977-1984) Total Appearances: 498
6.  Sheu (1972-1989) Total Appearances: 487
7.  Manuel Bento (1972-1990) Total Appearances: 465
8.  Antonio Simoes (1961-1975) Total Appearances: 447
9.  Eusebio (1960-1975) Total Appearances: 440
10.  Cavem (1954-1970) Total Appearances: 416
11.  Francisco Ferreira (1938-1952) Total Appearances: 398
12.  Nuno Gomes (1997-2000) (2002-2011) Total Appearances: 398
13.  Toni (1968-1981) Total Appearances: 392
14.  Bastos Lopes (1972-1987) Total Appearances: 391
15.  Jose Aguias (1950-1963) Total Appearances: 383
16.  Jose Augusto (1959-1970)  Total Appearances: 369
17.  Alberto Pereira (1954-1967) Total Appearances: 359
18.  Fernando Cruz (1959-1970) Total Appearances: 344
19.  Francisco Albino (1932-1945) Total Appearances: 343
20.  Maxi Pereira (2007-2015) Total Appearances: 333



21.  Rodrigo Pipi (1942-1954) Total Appearances: 320
22.  Gaspar Pinto (1934-1946) Total Appearances: 318
23.  Carlos Manuel (1979-1988) Total Appearances: 318
24.  Minervino Pietra (1976-1986) Total Appearances: 313
25.  Fernando Chalana (1975-1984) (1987-1990) Total Appearances: 310
26.  Diamantino Miranda (1978-1980) (1982-1990) Total Appearances: 302
27.  Joao Pinto (1992-2000) Total Appearances: 302
28.  Arsenio Duarte (1943-1955) Total Appearances: 299
29.  Jose Henrique (1966-1979) Total Appearances: 299
30.  Oscar Cardozo (2007-2014) Total Appearances: 293
31.  Vitor Paneira (1988-1995) Total Appearances: 288
32.  Angelo Martins (1952-1965) Total Appearances: 285
33.  Artur Santos (1950-1961) Total Appearances: 284
34.  Francisco Moreira (1944-1954) Total Appearances: 266
35.  Eduardo Salvio (2010-2011) (2012-2018) Total Appearances: 266
36.  Antonio Martins (1938-1947) Total Appearances: 265
37.  Alfredo Valadas (1934-1944) Total Appearances: 264
38.  Silvino Louro (1986-1994) Total Appearances: 263
39.  Alvaro Magalhaes (1981-1990) Total Appearances: 261
40.  Jose Torres (1959-1971) Total Appearances: 259