Man City want Benfica defender in January transfer window

According to reports coming out of England, Manchester City will be after Benfica defender Ruben Dias when the January transfer window opens in 2020. Man City are currently missing their regular starting center backs and have not been impressed by the play of their substitutes which has City ready to enter the transfer market. Benfica have recently signed a new deal with Dias until the end of the 2024 season and have been firm in approached by other clubs, that they want Dias' €88M buy out clause met. Dias is another home grown product from Benfica's Seixal academy and has been a member of the main squad since the 2017/18 season. Dias has appeared in 92 games across all competitions for Benfica to date, scoring 8 times while setting up three.

Benfica escape with a win over Moreirense

Benfica escaped their Week 6 league game with a 2-1 victory over Moreirense, were the club scored two goals in the last five minutes of the game to snatch the victory away from the home side.
Benfica started the game almost back to full strength after resting a handful of the clubs regular league starters in their Champions League loss to RB Leipzig midweek. The Lisbon club looked to get back to their winning ways as they continued their chase of surprise league leaders Famalicao but a tough Moreirense squad was determined to make sure that Benfica would not easily leave with the full three points and held Benfica without a shot on goal after the first 45 minutes. Benfica's new strike tandem of Seferovic and Raul de Tomas continued their early season struggle to find the back of the net.

The second half saw Moreirense open the scoring just three minutes into the half as striker Luther Singh received an attempted clearance by Benfica defender Ruben Dias right at his feet and Moreirense had the lead. Benfica then applied the pressure to find the equalizer but were continuously thwarted by a tough Moreirense side, it was not until a Ruben Dias cross went off the head of Moreirense defender Iago Santos and right to Rafa Silva who brought the game level after his header beat the Moreirense keeper to the far post at the 85th minute. The Rafa goal was Benfica's first shot on net of the game and their second shot would come at the 90th minute when Seferovic would head the ball past Mateus on a cross from substitute Jota, who entered the game just two minutes earlier. Benfica would claim the three points once the final whistle went but not as easily as some had hoped coming into the game. Benfica also saw the return of injured midfielder Gedson Fernandes who appeared in his first Benfica game since May of last season. Gedson entered the game at the 66 minute mark in place of Fejsa. Next up for Benfica is a League Cup game against Guimaraes on Wednesday.

Leicester City foiled in bid to watch Almeida

Leicester City scouts made the trip to Lisbon this week for the Champions League encounter between Benfica and RB Leipzig with the intentions to have a look at Benfica right back Andre Almeida. Unfortunately for Leicester, Benfica manager decided to give Almeida the night off and youngster Tomas Tavares got the start for Benfica. Leicester City who already have a Portuguese right back in Ricardo Pereira may be looking at Almeida as a potentially replacement for Pereira who will be sold to gather funds for the club in the future. Almeida has been a member of Benfica since the 2011 season.