With Benfica set to take on FC Porto in the Taca de Portugal final, it marks the end of the 2019/20 season and many are expecting a flurry of moves to be announced next week by the club with the first being the not so secret return of Jorge Jesus as the clubs manager. Jesus' return does not come without a price as Benfica get ready to splash money around for the first time in years acquiring some top talent as they look to recapture the Portuguese crown as well as make a mark in European football. Benfica have been linked to the likes of Edinson Cavani, Cebolinha, Bruno Henrique, Leonardo Cabrera and Gerson to name a few. Benfica President Luis Filipe Vieira has promised Jesus that he will have a say on who stays and who goes within the current club while adding from abroad the players that the manager seeks to strengthen the squad. Expect Benfica to announce between three to five player signings in the next ten days with a couple of those signings sending shock waves across Portugal and Europe. Benfica has also opened dialogue with many Brazilian clubs as Jesus looks to bring over some of Campeonato's better players. The summer transfer season will have the attention of many Benfica fans as they await eagerly for the good news and some relevance once again in Europe.
Benfica are set for their season ending encounter against FC Porto later today in the Taca de Portugal Final, as they hope to end the season on a high note after letting the league title slip away to their arch rivals. This game is also special because Benfica have decided they will unveil next seasons jerseys in this final game for all to see instead of waiting until the start of next year.
Benfica fans have lined up the streets of Coimbra chanting Benfica songs as they let their club know they are all behind them. The Taca game will also mark the last game by intern manager Nelson Verissimo as he gets ready to hand the reigns to incoming manager Jorge Jesus.
Benfica have found out who their possible opponents in the Champions League 3rd round qualifying stage will be and who they will avoid as they look to advance to the windfall of the group stage. Benfica will have the status of top seed and will avoid clubs Dynamo Kiev Gent, Besiktas in the stage with their possible opponents coming from Krasnodar, PAOK, Rapid Vienna, Rennes, AZ Alkmaar, Lokomotiv Zagreb and Viktoria Plzen. Benfica will still need a playoff to reach the group stage after the 3rd round qualifier but in a change from previous years due to COVID-19 the 3rd round qualifier will be a one off game while the playoff game will be the normal two legs.
