Benfica are looking at replacing the whole pitch at the Estadio da Luz after noticing during their O Classico encounter against FC Porto on August 24 that the stadium grass is not at the quality that it was the previous season. Benfica manager Bruno Lage confirmed today that the pitch will be replaced at some point in November and hopes the change will give the club better ball movement which was a key to the clubs success last season. Lage is also concerned that the poor pitch has played a part in the clubs player injuries this season with Rafa Silva the latest to be hurt on the clubs home grass. Rui Costa the clubs sporting director and general manager Tiago Pinto traveled to the Netherlands to find a solution on Monday, the pitch change will actually be the third for the club since the June.
According to reports coming out of Argentina's El Dia newspaper, Boca Juniors have exercised the buy out clause option to acquire defender Lisandro Lopez and make his loan move permanent from Benfica. Benfica will pocket €3M from the sale of the 30 year old who was loaned to Boca in January of this year and who's buy out clause was set to expire at year end. Lisandro joined Benfica in the summer of 2013 and appeared in 54 games across all competitions, scoring six goals and adding three helpers. He won eight trophies in his time with the club which included three league championships.
Benfica return to action today in the Portuguese League away against Tondela after spending close to a month without a league game due to international break and Taca games taking place since their last league game. The game
will take place at 4pm WEST and 18 players from the list below will
dress for the game.
Keepers- Vlachodimos, Ivan Zlobin, Fabio Duarte
Defenders- Ferro, Alex Grimaldo, Jardel, Tomas Tavares, Andre Almeida, Ruben Dias
Midfielders- Pizzi, Franco Cervi, Gedson Fernandes, Gabriel, Florentino, Taarabt, Caio Lucas, Chiquinho
Forwards- Seferovic, Jota, Carlos Vinicius
