Benfica's Classico result does the club no favours

Benfica entered their road game against arch rivals FC Porto knowing that a victory would close the gap on league leaders Sporting who had just dropped points in a draw against Rio Ave earlier in the day. Benfica and FC Porto both sat four points behind Sporting with one of them having an opportunity to close the gap to just two points with a victory. Benfica manager Jorge Jesus provided a surprise in his starting eleven when he moved starting left back Alex Grimaldo into the midfield in place of Everton giving Nuno Tavares the start in Grimaldo's place. The move provided dividends right away for the club when Grimaldo opened the scoring just 17 minutes into the game on a beautiful chip over Porto's keeper. 

The joy was short lived with Porto equalizing just eight minutes later, a score that would hold up until the final whistle was blown. Benfica was giving an advantage to go for victory with just 17 minutes left in the game as Porto goal scorer Taremi was a given a straight red card after a VAR review changed his original yellow card for a hard challenge on Benfica defender Otamendi. Benfica who were having one of their better performances of the season was unable to capitalize on the advantage and blew an opportunity to close the gap on the league leaders.

Benfica set to take Belenenses in quarter-finals

Benfica are set to take on Belenenses in the Taca de Portugal quarter-final game towards the end of the month after defeating Amadora 4-0 in their round of 16 game. Benfica got a pair of goals from Chiquinho with Seferovic and Waldschmidt chipping in as they cruised to past the division three side. Belenenses SAD had to come from two goals down to defeat Fafe 3-2 in additional extra time to get to the quarter-final stage. The winner of the Benfica/Belenenses game will face the winner of Maritimo/Estoril in a two leg semi-final encounter before moving into the Taca de Portugal Finals. Benfica have won 29 Taca de Portugal titles.

Is Goncalo Ramos being dangled to Maritimo for Pinho?

With Benfica having secured the signature of Maritimo striker Rodrigo Pinho on a free transfer after his contract ends with the Madeira club this summer, Benfica manager Jorge Jesus is pushing to have the 29 year old join the club now instead of later this year. Maritimo have no interest in allowing their leading scorer from this season and last to depart before his contract runs out without an incentive from the Lisbon side, so look for the clubs to complete a loan swap if Pinho is to join Benfica this month.

The name that has been whispered around Portugal with a move to Maritimo is 19 year old youngster Goncalo Ramos, the attacking forward would join the Madeira club on loan until seasons end, providing Ramos with valuable experience while he plays regular minutes at Maritimo. Ramos has only appeared in 180 minutes for Benfica across all competitions this season scoring once while setting up another, he has also appeared in four games for Benfica B were he scored seven goals and added three assists earning himself a promotion to the main club.

Pinho who has been on fire this season for Maritimo has scored sixteen goals across all competitions in just fourteen games, with one of his markers coming yesterday in a surprise Maritimo win over Sporting in Taca de Portugal action. It is no wonder that Jorge Jesus is pushing to have the productive striker join the club now and not in the summer.