Benfica manager Bruno Lage in an earlier interview this week in Portugal admitted to being interested in West Ham keeper Lukasz Fabianski during the January transfer window. The 34 year old Polish keeper joined the Hammers during the summer transfer window of 2018 from Swansea City and has been West Ham's best player ever since. Fabianski's heroics have not gone unnoticed and Lage was hoping to land the veteran as insurance in case of an injury to current starting keeper Vlachodimos. Benfica have been on the hunt for a veteran keeper since the summer but have not been able to acquire one at a club friendly price. Fabianski could be available in the summer months as West Ham fight to avoid relegation and a fall to the second division would surely see the Polish International on the move. Benfica currently have youngster Ivan Zlobin as the clubs number two as Lage's hopes for a veteran went unfulfilled.
Benfica escaped with a 3-2 victory in a hard fought first leg encounter against Famalicao in their Taca de Portugal semi-final game. Benfica made four changes to their winning squad from Week 19 resting Ferro, Weigl, Rafa and Vinicius and inserting Jardel, Gabriel, Chiquinho and Seferovic in their places. The first half saw both clubs come close to opening the scoring with their close encounters going wide of the others respective net and Famalicao's keeper Vana came up with a big stop, turning aside Pizzi's free kick as the clubs went into the half scoreless. Benfica opened the scoring eight minutes into the half when Pizzi would convert a penalty after a Seferovic cross was hand balled by defender Riccieli but that lead was short lived as just five minutes later Pedro Goncalves would equalize after a scramble in front of Benfica's net. Famalicao would then take the lead on the counter attack as Pedro Goncalves turned playmaker and found a streaking Toni Martinez who broke in a alone and had his low shot get past Benfica keeper Vlachodimos. It was then Benfica's turn to equalize quickly as just six minutes later Rafa Silva would bury a Carlos Vinicius rebound to make the game 2-2 as the two substitutes clicked quickly after entering the game. Benfica would then seal the victory in additional time as Grimaldo's corner kick would find the head of Gabriel and he would make no mistake smashing home the winner to give Benfica the slim victory in the first leg, the two clubs will meet again next week at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao on February 11 as one club looks to move into the Taca de Portugal Finals.
Benfica are set to take on Famalicao in the first leg of the Taca de Portugal semi-final at the Estadio da Luz as they look to advance to the Final of the tournament for the first time since 2017. Benfica will play Famalicao today at 7:15pm WEST and they will dress 18 players from the list below.
Keepers- Vlachodimos, Ivan Zlobin
Defenders- Tomas Tavares, Alex Grimaldo, Ruben Dias, Ferro, Jardel, Andre Almeida,
Midfielders- Chiquinho, Pizzi, Taarabt, Franco Cervi, Rafa Silva, Gabriel, Florentino
Forwards- Carlos Vinicius, Seferovic, Jota
