Bordeaux approached Benfica in the summer transfer window with an interest in acquiring midfielder Gabriel from the club. Bordeaux who is managed now by former Benfica player Paulo Sousa wanted to see the midfielder in France this season but Benfica manager Bruno Lage was quick to put the brakes on any deal away from the Lisbon side. Negotiations did not even get to discussing dollars as Bruno Lage feels that Gabriel when healthy is an integral part of the Benfica squad. Gabriel who joined Benfica from Leganes in the summer of 2018 for €8M, had a slow start to his career with the Eagles under former manager Rui Vitoria.
It was not until Lage took over at the club that Gabriel would see regular action, appearing in 10 out of the clubs 11 games before a knee injury would knock him out for the season with 7 games remaining. Gabriel has been hit with the injury bug again this season and has not appeared in a league game after sustaining a collateral ligament injury in the season opening Super Cup against Sporting. The Luso/Brazilian midfielder though is inching closer to a return to the club and Bruno Lage will be counting on the 26 year old to take control of the clubs midfield, a role which he has excelled with at the club since Lage arrived.
Benfica kicked off their group stage game in the League Cup or as it is better known in Portugal the Taca da Liga against Guimaraes today in what was very dull game at the Estadio da Luz. Benfica and Guimaraes ended they same way that the game begun with zeros on the scoreboard. Benfica started 8 different faces from the squad that defeated Moreirense over the weekend, with Zlobin, Tomas Tavares, Nuno Tavares, Jardel, Samaris, Gedson, Jota and Caio Lucas joining Taarabt, Ruben Dias and Seferovic in the starting eleven.
Benfica seemed to be content in taking the opportunity to rest some of their regular faces and all the new faces came out flat in the first half, if not for the post in the first half foiling striker Bonatini strike, the Eagles could have found themselves down one. The second half saw a more aggressive Benfica squad and the entries of Rafa Silva and Gabriel, the latter's first appearance since suffering an injury in the season opening added a more intense and pressing game that was lacking. Benfica though could not find a way past Guimaraes' stingy defense and both squads seemed happy to end the game with a scoreless draw. Next up for Benfica is a home game against Setubal on Saturday.
Benfica and Sporting are set to battle for FCSB winger Florinel Coman when the transfer window opens in January. The 21 year old winger has caught the eye of both Lisbon clubs with his performances this season. Coman who has played regular first team footbal since the 2017/18 season the same year that he joined Romanian powerhouse FCSB from Viitorul. The youngster has already appeared in 83 games across all competitions for FCSB, scoring 20 goals and setting up another 19. The reports coming from Digi Sport in Romania state that both Lisbon clubs would need to cough up over €20M to acquire the winger a price tag that would include bonuses for FCSB to consider selling Coman to either club.
