Benfica should look to league to fill injury

Benfica will be looking to acquire a center back when the winter transfer window opens in January after the season ending injury to Lucas Verissimo suffered in Week 11's victory over Braga. Verissimo's loss leaves a hole in Benfica's back line which plays three center backs regularly in their starting eleven. Benfica still have current starters Otamendi and Vertonghen healthy at the moment but both players are on the wrong side of 30 and susceptible to injury. Benfica's other options are 20 year old Morato and rarely seen 24 year old Ferro which does not provide confidence if the club succumbs to more injuries on the back end.

Benfica has been linked with a loan move once again with Barcelona's rarely used center back Samuel Umtiti but the club may be wise to look at more affordable options from within the Portuguese League who are accustomed to the style of play. Two names that come to mind and look to be a good fit with the club are Pacos Ferreira's Maracas and Estoril's Lucas Africo. The two players have played in Portugal since 2019 and are key cogs in their respective clubs back line. Maracas who is 27 years old and Africo who is 26 would provide the added insurance if the club were to lose additional players from their back line for extended periods of time.

Benfica suffer losses in big Braga win

Benfica played their best game in weeks in what amounted to a crushing 6-1 victory handed to Braga during Week 11 action in Portugal but the victory left a bitter taste in the mouths of the club and fans with Benfica suffering four injuries to players that have been regularly used in the starting eleven by manager Jorge Jesus. The worst of the four injuries is the loss of center back Lucas Verissimo after he suffered a right knee injury that will require surgery and end the 26 year old's season.

Joao Mario and Rafa Silva also suffered injuries in the victory and have been both dismissed from the Portugal national side, with Joao Mario suffering a back injury while Rafa suffered a muscle injury to his right thigh. The final injury was to striker Darwin Nunez who sustained a tendon injury to his right knee and he has also been dismissed from the Uruguay national side, the club has yet to provide how long the three will be out of action but with a Barcelona encounter in the Champions League just a couple of weeks away, here is hoping it is not too long.

Seferovic returns to face Braga

The return of Swiss striker Haris Seferovic from injury could not come at a better time for the club with the current struggles of Ukraine striker Roman Yaremchuk over the last few weeks. Seferovic has been out of action since suffering a muscle injury, last appearing with Benfica at the end of August and has played just 52 minutes this season. Seferovic who led the club in goals last season should commence the game on the bench but will be looked upon to make an entry likely in the second half in place of Yaremchuk who has failed to find the back of the net since the end of September, a span of 480 minutes. Seferovic has scored 69 times for Benfica in 175 career appearances across all competitions and won the league's golden boot during the 2018-19 season.