Benfica squad set for second leg Taca game against Famalicao

Benfica are set for their second leg Taca de Portugal encounter against Famalicao after scratching out a victory in additional time 3-2 in the first leg. Benfica are coming off their first loss to a Portuguese club since August of 2019 after losing in the Classico to rivals FC Porto over the weekend and Benfica will need to have better form if they are to advance to the Taca de Portugal Finals. Benfica play Famalicao today at 8:45pm WEST and they will dress 18 players from the list below.

Keepers- Vlachodimos, Ivan Zlobin

Defenders- Tomas Tavares, Alex Grimaldo, Ruben Dias, Ferro, Nuno Tavares

Midfielders- Chiquinho, Pizzi, Taarabt, Franco Cervi, Rafa Silva, Samaris, Florentino, Julian Weigl

Forwards- Carlos Vinicius, Seferovic, Jota, Dyego Sousa

Benfica already cash in bonus on Raul de Tomas

Benfica have already earned a cash bonus on this winters sale of striker Raul de Tomas to Espanyol as the club will receive an additional €500,000 more on top of the €20M sale after the striker scored his fifth goal for Espanyol in only five appearances. De Tomas who was a complete bust in his short time at Benfica scored only three times in 18 appearances across all competitions and did not score once for the club in league play. De Tomas had joined Benfica in the summer of 2019 from Real Madrid for €20M to much fan fare as the heir apparent to replace a retiring Jonas but things did not work that way for De Tomas or the club and he was sold just six months after joining the Lisbon side. Benfica can now say that they have made a profit on the De Tomas sale with a potential to add another €1.5M in bonuses.

Benfica ask Portuguese Football Federation and Liga for foreign referees

Benfica officials are furious with the officiating that they feel cost the club the game in their O Classico encounter against FC Porto over the weekend. Benfica feel the officiating crew of Artur Soares Dias made several errors during the game that lead to defeat and are asking the Portuguese Football Federation and Liga Portugal for foreign referees to officiate both clubs league games until the end of the season. Benfica also feel that VAR made an error on the penalty call against Ferro in the first half of the game that resulted in Porto taking a 2-1 lead. Benfica feel that five moments in particular during the game effected the result of the game:

1- At the 4 minute mark an aggressive play by Porto winger Marega against Taarabt which cost the player to lose teeth passed completely unscathed.

2- The club felt that the yellow card handed to Julian Weigl at the 30 minute mark should not have been given as the player failed to touch the Porto player who dove. Benfica also felt that the yellow cards given to almost all of the clubs midfielders in the first half which included Pizzi and Taarabt effected the clubs performance while only one Porto midfielder was carded in the half.

3- Benfica claim that the penalty awarded was unfair and images show that Tiquinho pushed Ferro away causing the player to fall forward with arms out causing the ball to be headed by the Porto striker into the players arm.