Saturday, July 24, 2021

Benfica and Roma inquire about Getafe midfielder

Benfica Blog
According to Spanish page MARCA both Benfica and Roma have spoken to Getafe officials about the current status of Serbian midfielder Nemanja Maksimovic but neither club has yet to make a formal offer for the 26 year old's services. Any negotiations for Maksimovic won't be easy as Valencia still hold 30% of the players rights and Getafe is looking for a knockout offer to proceed with any sale.

Maksimovic joined Getafe in the summer of 2018 for €10M and has appeared in 118 games across all competitions, scoring four goals while setting up one in his time with the club. Maksimovic has also seen time with Valencia, Astana and Verona's U19 side in his playing career and has earned 31 caps for the Serbian national side.

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Pedro Pereira returns to Italy on loan

Benfica Blog
Benfica right back Pedro Pereira will be returning to Italy to join Serie B side Monza on loan with a mandatory option to make the move permanent in January for €3M. The 25 year old has a tonne of experience playing in Italy already having appeared with Sampdoria, Genoa and last season as a member of Crotone. 

Benfica acquired Pereira in the winter of 2017 from Sampdoria for €2.66M but he has appeared in only one league game with the club, spending the majority of his time as member away on loan. Pereira joins U21 international Danny Mota at Monza as the Italian side looks to earn promotion to Serie A.

Monday, July 19, 2021

Rui Vitoria's Spartak first test in Champions League qualification

Benfica Blog
Benfica's quest to land in the Champions League group stage and all the millions that are involved for qualifying for UEFA's premier club event is set to kick off against former bench boss Rui Vitoria's Spartak Moscow. Benfica found out their opponents in the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League earlier today in Nyon, Switzerland and are set to face the Russian side on either August 3/4 in Moscow and August 10 in Lisbon.

A win by Benfica will move them into the final playoff which will put them one tie away from the group stage while a loss will see the club fall into the Europa League group stage for a second straight season. Rui Vitoria managed Benfica from the summer of 2015 until he was let go midway through the 2018/19 season. Vitoria won two Portuguese League titles along with a Taca de Portugal, League Cup and Super Cup in his time at the helm.

Benfica and Spartak's only other encounter in UEFA action came in the Group Stage of the 2012/13 Champions League which saw both clubs win at home in their two games played. Benfica finished 3rd in the group that year and went all the way to the Europa League finals were they lost 2-1 to Chelsea on a heartbreaking additional time goal.