Benfica return to action after a long lay off due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will play Tondela in Week 25 action at an empty Estadio da Luz. Benfica will be looking to take advantage of FC Porto's loss to Famalicao in their first game to leap frog the current league leaders for top spot in the league. Benfica will play Tondela today
at 7:15pm WEST
and
they will dress 18 players from the list below.
Keepers- Vlachodimos, Mile Svilar, Ivan Zlobin
Defenders- Tomas Tavares, Alex Grimaldo, Ruben Dias, Ferro, Nuno Tavares, Andre Almeida, Jardel
Midfielders- Chiquinho, Pizzi, Taarabt, Franco Cervi, Rafa Silva, Samaris, Florentino, Julian Weigl, Gabriel
Forwards- Carlos Vinicius, Jota, Dyego Sousa, Seferovic
Thanks to the current COVID-19 pandemic effecting the globe, UEFA is looking at safer alternatives to host their Champions League Final and Benfica's Estadio da Luz has been mentioned as a potential host stadium to conclude the 2019/20 tournament. UEFA currently have security concerns with hosting the final in Istanbul as was originally the case and are thinking of condensing the tournament for the final eight with a one game elimination format all in one country. This would reduce travel and safety concerns as well as reducing the amount of games that are normally played. Lisbon is considered an ideal location with their newer stadiums, low COVID numbers and with no Portuguese clubs remaining in the tournament, no one club would have any type of advantage with no fans set to attend the games. Benfica's Estadio da Luz last hosted the Champions League final in 2014 which pitted an all Madrid showdown between Real and Atletico.
With Benfica set to return to action on Thursday at home against Tondela, reports out of Portugal have stated that Bruno Lage looks to have his starting eleven picked and ready when league play recommences. Lage is said to be looking to go with Vlachodimos, Andre Almeida, Ruben Dias, Ferro, Alex Grimaldo, Gabriel, Julian Weigl, Rafa Silva, Pizzi, Taarabt and Carlos Vinicius in the starting eleven against Tondela. The long layoff has benefited the club when it's come to it's injury list with the return to action of players Andre Almeida and Gabriel who were out of the lineup at the time of stoppage. Their return to the lineup will see Lage experiment with midfielder Taarabt in the secondary striker/attacking midfielder role along side striker Carlos Vinicius. Benfica have ten games remaining in the season and will look to kickoff their return to play with a win over Tondela.
