Benfica face biggest test of the season to date

Benfica travel to Spain to take on Barcelona in Champions League action on Tuesday in what may very well be the deciding game of who gets out of the group stage joining Bayern Munich in the round of 16 as both clubs look to get the better of the other. The two clubs are separated by just two points with Barcelona in front but Benfica go into the Catalonia capital, confident after trashing the Spanish giants in Lisbon 3-0 in their first group game encounter.

Simply said a Barcelona victory eliminates any hope of Benfica moving on from the group stage to the lucrative round of 16, while a draw will require Benfica to win their final game at home against Dynamo Kiev and rely on the help of group leaders Bayern Munich to avoid a loss at the hands of Barcelona on their own home turf. Benfica could make the matter simple by just winning their final two group stage games which will get them into the round of 16 for the first time since the 2016/17 edition.

Benfica will face a Barcelona squad lead by a new man on the sidelines after the dismissal of manager Ronald Koeman, as club legend Xavi has taken over the role, managing in just his first game yesterday. This game may very well come down to tactics over skill as can the wily veteran Jorge Jesus get the better of the young road runner Xavi in a game that means a huge deal to both clubs and fan bases.

Benfica to test Andre Almeida at center back

Benfica are flirting with the idea of giving right back Andre Almeida a shot in the center back position to help fill the void caused by the season ending injury suffered to regular starter Lucas Verissimo. Benfica will look to add a center back when the transfer window opens but with a flurry of games over the next six weeks, Benfica will be looking within its squad to shore up the back end until then.

Almeida is Benfica's longest serving player, joining the club in the summer of 2011 and has appeared in 291 games across all competitions, scoring eleven goals while adding forty-one helpers. The move would give the 31 year old a chance at regular minutes with a log jam developing in the right back position as Benfica currently have the option of using up to five current rostered players at right back including Almeida.

Benfica not prepared to let Darwin leave for peanuts

With the January transfer window just around the corner the name of Benfica striker Darwin Nunez has started to heat up the news wire as some of Europe's bigger clubs have their names linked with the acquisition of the Uruguayan international. Benfica President Rui Costa has already made it clear that the club has no interest in moving the 22 year old during the winter window and that clubs will need to wait until the summer before the club would consider discussing any move away from Lisbon.

Nunez joined Benfica in the summer of 2020 for a club record €24M from Spanish club Almeria and has appeared in 57 games across all competitions, scoring 22 goals while setting up an additional 14. Nunez currently has a €150M buy out clause which would be difficult to meet due to the current financial difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic but Benfica also know that they have found a gem and any move away from Benfica will be a costly one for any club looking to land Nunez. Benfica at this time should be looking to land a minimum of €70M from any interested buyer and that total may grow if Nunez continues his fine form.