Boavista striker almost guaranteed at Benfica

Benfica are preparing for the summer transfer window even with it still two months away as the club looks to strengthen itself to compete for next season. Benfica have accepted that they will be moving on from current striker and league scoring leader Darwin Nunez during the summer months as the 22 year old Uruguayan has caught the attention of many of Europe's top clubs in a move that should bring in a record haul for the Lisbon side.

Benfica are also said to be ready to move on from Swiss striker Haris Seferovic, while striker Rodrigo Pinho has gone through two injury plagued seasons and is not being counted on for next year. This would leave Benfica with only two striking options in youngster Goncalo Ramos and Roman Yaremchuk with a host of spots to fill on the squad up front.

According to reports in Portugal, Benfica have already set their sights on one league striker who has scored eleven goals and set up three across all competitions for Boavista this season, that striker's name is Petar Musa who is on loan from Slavia Prague. Musa's loan deal includes a clause that has already been automatically activated, when Musa hit the ten goal mark in February. Boavista are now on the hook to pay Slavia Prague €3.5M for the 24 year old Musa while Benfica monitor the situation closely and ready to act financially to assist Boavista with finalizing the move.

 

Benfica mistakes prove costly in Liverpool loss

Benfica went into their Champions League quarter-final encounter saying all the right things but once the game kicked off, Benfica looked afraid to get any attack going in the first half, a mistake that proved costly in their 3-1 defeat at the hands of Liverpool and now face the impossible task of traveling to Anfield next week and hoping for a positive result in the second leg encounter.

The Estadio da Luz was rocking as the game kicked off but Benfica got their first warning just nine minutes into the game as Salah's chance on goal was shot straight at Benfica keeper Vlachodimos. The game would remain scoreless for just eight more minutes as Liverpool would convert a corner when center back Konate who was left unmarked would smash a header into the Benfica net.

Benfica would get a break at the 23 minute mark but Everton's run on goal should have saw him do better as his shot would go wide into the netting from in close range. Liverpool almost doubled their lead just one minute later but a Luis Diaz attempt was turned aside by Vlachodimos once more as Liverpool's confidence grew.

Liverpool would then make the score 2-0 after a Taarabt pass attempt was intercepted in Benfica's half and a beautiful cross by Alexander-Arnold would see Luis Diaz head pass the ball to an open Sadio Mane who would tap the ball into a wide open goal. Luis Diaz would then come oh so close to scoring but his low shot would go wide of the bottom left corner. Vlachodimos would need to make another stop just before the half, this time to Mo Salah to keep the game within reach.

Benfica were lucky to go into the half down just two as the Lisbon side failed to get anything going and who's passing was piss poor all half.

Benfica set for Liverpool clash

Benfica will kick off their Champions League quarter-final campaign against English club Liverpool on Tuesday at the Estadio da Luz as the Lisbon side continues their UEFA campaign with the second leg of the quarter-final taking place at Anfield on April 13. 

Benfica go into this game coming off a disappointing road loss to Braga 3-2 on Friday, just about ending the clubs quest to finish in the top two places in the league as they currently trail second place Sporting by six points, which could rise to nine by the end of the day today. Benfica are hoping that a continued run in the Champions League will appease their fans from their terrible domestic season.