Benfica into Champions League group stage

Benfica cruised into the Champions League group stage after a 5-0 two leg aggregate win over Dynamo Kiev and will add €38M into their coffer from qualifying into football's most lucrative club competition. Benfica were required to take the long route and get past two rounds of qualifying to earn a place among Europe's elite 32 team tournament in the hopes of exceeding last season's quarter-final performance.

Benfica join fellow Portuguese clubs FC Porto and Sporting in the group stage, the eighth time that three clubs from Portugal will be among the 32 remaining UEFA clubs. This seasons group stage will award €2.8M per victory and €930K per draw, clubs moving onto the round of 16 will bag an additional €9.6M. Benfica had many players step up in their four qualifying games but none more so then striker Goncalo Ramos who chipped in four goals while setting up an additional two.

Benfica continue alternate winger search

Benfica are making sure to keep all their options open with the transfer window set to close in less then two weeks and one of the positions they are desperate to shore up is the wing. Benfica thought that an agreement for Braga winger Ricardo Horta was complete but bickering about the disbursement of proceeds between Horta's right holders Braga and Malaga have stalled and could potentially derail the whole negotiation.

Which has Benfica already looking for alternatives to Horta and the club have recently been linked with Velez Sarsfield's 22 year old winger Luca Orellano who is left footed and can play on either wing. Orellano's contract with Sarsfield has a buy out clause of €8M and his acquisition would be a much cheaper option then the Horta deal which is said to be for €16M + players. The next few days should be interesting for the club as they look to strengthen the squad for the first half of the season.

Benfica U20 ready for Intercontinental Cup

Benfica's U20 squad will travel to Uruguay to face off against Penarol in the first inaugural Intercontinental Cup for the youth league Champions of both UEFA and CONMEBOL. Benfica and Penarol will play their encounter in Montevideo's Estadio Centenario on August 21st in a ninety minute affair that would go to penalties if the game is level after regulation time.

Benfica's 2022 UEFA Youth League Champions will be without striker Henrique Araujo who scored a hat trick in the clubs 6-0 final victory in April as he is now part of the main squad but winger Diego Moreira has been given the green light to join the U20 squad on their trip. Benfica will have a familiar squad that impressed in their victory over Salzburg.