Benfica's Swiss striker Haris Seferovic is being linked with a move to Italian side Roma according to reports coming from Italy. Roma who are currently managed by Portuguese Paulo Fonseca are looking for an alternative to 33 year old Edin Dzeko and with currently loanee Nikola Kalinic failing to impress have turned their attention to the Lisbon side. The 27 year old Seferovic signed a new contract with Benfica over the summer that puts him under Benfica control until the 2024 season, the new deal also includes a €60M buy out clause. Seferovic joined Benfica on a free transfer in the summer of 2017 and won the golden boot in the Portuguese league last season with 23 goals. Seferovic has appeared in 96 games for Benfica across all competitions, scoring 38 goals while setting up 13. Benfica who have already earned an enormous amount during the summer transfer window will be looking to cash in on the big Swiss striker which may not bode well for Roma's ambitions.
Benfica are set to launch their own streaming service called "Benfica Play" in December. Executive director Domingos Soares de Oliveira said that Benfica Play will be similar to Netflix and will give the clubs fans exclusive access to the clubs backstage content which would include dressing room conversations and training sessions. The streaming service will be fully dedicated to Benfica content with a goal of bringing the fans closer to the club. Soares also made it clear the Benfica Play would be separate from Benfica TV and that the streaming service would not be showing any live content. There was not any pricing for the new streaming service released and if fans from outside Portugal will be able to subscribe to the service.
Benfica traveled to France to face Lyon just two weeks after earning their first victory in their Champions League campaign against the same French side but the club fell behind early and could not recover losing 3-1. This was Benfica's third loss in four contests, making their outlook for progression to the Champions League round of 16 less likely. Bruno Lage continued to tinker with his starting lineup dressing a squad with an average age of 22.7 years for the contest while regular starters Pizzi, Andre Almeida and Seferovic watched from the sidelines. Benfica President Luis Filipe Vieira's Champions League plan for the club may be to show off the academies developing players then actually trying to win contests, which is disappointing for the legion of the clubs fans across the globe who have watched smaller sides like Ajax and Monaco make runs over the last few years.
Lyon would open the scoring quick just four minutes into the game when a Dubois cross landed in between Benfica keeper Vladchodimos and his defenders, Lyon center back Andersen would get a head on it, thumping the ball into the back of the net to give Lyon the lead. Aouar would then send a cross towards goal at the twelve minute mark and as Vladchodimos rushed off his line to punch it clear he collided with center back Ferro, knocking the youngster out of the game with what appeared to be a concussion, Ferro was attended to by the medical staff and taken off on a
stretcher, he was replaced by veteran Jardel. Lyon would then get a chance to double their lead halfway through the first half as Aouar found Dembele but the striker's touch was too heavy and Vladchodimos was there to claim the ball.
