Jorge Jesus will not be on the bench for Taca game

Jorge Jesus will miss today's Taca de Portugal quarter-final encounter against Belenenses SAD due to a severe respiratory infection that the Portuguese manager is currently battling. Jesus spent the day yesterday in Lisbon hospital running tests as his condition which includes coughing, fever and associated chills worsened but he did test negative for COVID-19. Assistant Manager Joao de Deus will take over the managerial duties for today's game and could also do the same when the club takes on Sporting on Monday in the Lisbon Derby as it is unknown how long the 66 year old manager will be out as the club looks to keep him away from his duties with the on going pandemic. Benfica did receive some good news with the return of striker Waldschmidt from his COVID-19 isolation and will also have the services of Alex Grimaldo, Gilberto, Diogo Goncalves and Vertonghen as their time in isolation due to COVID-19 is over.

Update: It has been announced that Jorge Jesus has tested positive for COVID-19, the club states that he had 7 negative tests prior to testing positive.

Benfica release depleted squad for Nacional encounter

Benfica are set to host Madeira side Nacional in Week 15 action of the Portuguese League with a depleted roster due to ten of the clubs players currently out of action after testing positive for COVID-19. The devastating impact of the positive tests will be Benfica dip to third stringers in their league game. Benfica will play Nacional at 5pm WEST at the Estadio da Luz. They will dress all 20 players from the list below for the encounter..
  
Keepers- Mile Svilar, Fabio Duarte

Defenders- Ferro, Jardel, Todibo, Joao Ferreira

Midfielders- Chiquinho, Pizzi, Taarabt, Franco Cervi, Samaris, Julian Weigl, Rafa Silva, Pedrinho, Tiago Araujo

Forwards- Darwin Nunez, Goncalo Ramos, Seferovic, Facundo Ferreyra 

Jorge Jesus waiting to go 3-4-3

Benfica manager Jorge Jesus is waiting on the arrival of recent signing Lucas Verissimo as rumours swirl that he is ready to change Benfica's formation to an attacking 3-4-3. For Jesus' 3-4-3 formation to work he will rely on players to fully understand their roles in this type of formation as he switches to playing with 3 center backs in his starting eleven. A key piece to the 3-4-3 system will be defensive midfielder Julian Weigl who will be expected to get back deeper into the defensive box when the club defends opponents attacks while joining the club on the offensive. Jesus will count on his current squad to master this type of formation which would see the club pin opponents back with the sheer number of players that can commit to the attack but this type of formation requires the right type of skilled players, as stamina and tactical discipline are a big part of this formation working. Jesus is looking to not only compete for the league title at home but make a run in UEFA's Europa League with an attack that might just be hard to defend.