Benfica win to advance to round of 16 in Champions League

Benfica did their part and got a some help to advance to the Champions League round of 16 for the first time since the 2016/17 edition of the tournament. Benfica scored a pair early goals in the first 22 minutes of the game and held on to defeat Dynamo Kiev 2-0. Across the continent in Munich, Bayern provided the assist that the Lisbon club needed when they defeated Barcelona 3-0, moving Benfica one point ahead of the Spanish side and into the knockout stages.

Benfica will earn an additional €9.6M for advancing out of the group stage and into the final 16, they will be joined by Sporting who also advanced as group runners up. Benfica will find out their opponents in February on Monday December 13 when the UEFA draw takes place. Benfica will avoid German giants Bayern Munich but that still leaves one of the following seven, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Liverpool, Juventus, Lille and Ajax as the clubs next opponents.

Benfica ready to loan youngsters again

According to Portuguese daily A Bola, Benfica will be slimming down the squad when the transfer window opens in January with the likely loan departures of Seixal made youngsters Gedson Fernandes and David Ferro. The 24 year old Ferro and 22 year old Gedson have appeared in only 177 minutes combined across all competitions this season and the club feels that the two sitting does no good to their values going forward.

Gedson has already spent the prior season and a half on loan with Tottenham and Galatasaray, while Ferro spent half of last season on loan at Valencia. Benfica have their eyes on acquiring a center back during the winter window to add some depth to the squad after the season ending injury on the back end to Lucas Verissimo and manager Jorge Jesus prefers to have the minimum amount of players on the practice field when he prepares for matches.

Benfica have important month ahead

After a disappointing loss to Sporting where the club was just not clinical in front of their Lisbon rivals goal, Benfica have a very important month ahead which if they falter could see the end of Jorge Jesus' run as the manager of the club. Benfica will face Dynamo Kiev this week at the Luz in a must win game and hope that Barcelona either loses or draws against Bayern Munich to advance to the Champions League round of 16.

Benfica will then take on Famalicao in league play on the weekend before a crucial League Cup game against Covilha mid month in which they will need a victory by three or more goals to win their group and advance to the semi-finals. Benfica will face off against Maritimo in another league game at home before playing two crucial games against rival FC Porto, one on the 23rd in the Taca de Portugal round of 16 and the other on the 30th in league action with both games being played at Porto's Dragao.

A decision into Jorge Jesus' time at Benfica may be decided by the results that the club is able to obtain under his command this month. It is crucial that Benfica get the better of their arch rivals FC Porto something that Jesus has not been able to obtain for the club since his return to Benfica winning only one of six encounters in the Classico. Benfica fans showed the manager their displeasure Friday when they waved the famous white towel at the conclusion of the Lisbon Derby which caught the attention of  Benfica's upper management.