Benfica have released information on the extent of the injury suffered to captain and central defender Jardel during the clubs Taca de Portugal semi-final game against Famalicao. Jardel suffered an injury in the first half of the game to his internal lateral ligament of his right knee and the injury will see him unavailable to the club for the next two months. Jardel has only appeared in 10 games across all competitions this season as the veteran defender has taken a back seat to current starters Ruben Dias and Ferro. Jardel has been a member of Benfica since the winter of 2011 and has appeared in 258 total games for the club, the 33 year old Brazilians career is winding down but the veteran is still counted on by the club to provide the leadership in the locker room to many of the teams young stars and will be missed.
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.
