Benfica are currently working on making a decision if they will bring back winger Diogo Goncalves to the fold after his loan spell ends at Famalicao in the summer. Goncalves who last appeared in action with Benfica on February 17, 2018 during a league game against Boavista is a graduate from Benfica's famous Seixal academy. The 23 year old had struggled to find playing time the last few years with the Eagles and during a loan spell last season at Nottingham Forest but looks to have matured this season with Famalicao. Goncalves has appeared in 25 games across all competitions, scoring four goals while adding eight helpers and is a regular in the clubs starting eleven. Benfica and Famalicao earlier this season had discussed Goncalves remaining permanently with the northern Portuguese side with Benfica retaining 50% of the players rights going forward but Benfica look to have had a change of heart in 2020 amid its current struggles. Goncalves has been a regular member of Portugal's youth squads and can play both right and left wing for the club.
Benfica have announced the closing of its Official stores and their restaurant at the Estadio da Luz indefinitely due to COVID-19 also known as the corona virus as a way of preventing the spread of the virus. The closures are effective as of today as the club deals with the spread of the virus through Portugal and the world. Benfica have not been in action since a draw last Saturday against Setubal and the club along with the rest of the world awaits to get back to normal everyday life. Benfica have provided their players with a diet and training regiment while the club is in hiatus and have asked players to remain isolated at home and to leave in only causes of emergency. The club will continue to monitor players through an electronic bracelet as they do during the season. Benfica are also going through the process of refunding purchasers of tickets to this weekends Tondela game and will move on others on a game to game basis.
Benfica's run for the Portuguese League title has been put on hold as the Portuguese League has suspended play due to COVID-19. The league has decided that Week 25's games which earlier in the week were set to be played behind closed doors would be better off to not take place at all with pressure coming from the players syndicate to cancel these games. The League decided that it would be in the best interest of the fans and players to suspend plan indefinitely to avoid the spread of the virus from large crowd gatherings. Portugal currently have 78 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and have not suffered any deaths at this time with one of the infected having completed a full recovery.
