Benfica reach second best start to season ever

Benfica have now reached the twenty-seven game mark without suffering a loss to start the season after their 2-0 victory over Penafiel in their Taca da Liga group game. The mark is the second best start in the history of the club only trailing the 1959/60 team which reached thirty-one game mark before suffering a loss.

Benfica has amassed a record of twenty-three wins and four draws during the span which includes their performance in the Champions League qualifying rounds and group games, Portuguese League games and the Taca de Portugal along with the Taca da Liga. Benfica have also scored 73 goals while allowing 19 in all contests this season.

Andre Almeida could be back in

With right back Gilberto garnering plenty of interest from his native Brazil, Benfica may be looking for a back up to current starter Alexander Bah in January and the clubs former starting right back Andre Almeida could be just the guy to fill the role at the club. Almeida has yet to appear in any games with the club this season and made his first appearance on the substitute bench in last weekends Taca da Liga game against Amadora.

The 32 year old Almeida has been at Benfica since joining the club in the summer of 2011 from Belenenses on a free transfer and has appeared in 308 games with Benfica across all competitions, scoring eleven goals while setting up an additional forty-two. Benfica manager Roger Schmidt could also turn to Diogo Goncalves who appeared on occasion at the position under former manager Jorge Jesus.

Benfica ready for Kovacevic move to replace Vlachodimos

Benfica are being linked once again with Bosnian keeper Vladan Kovacevic as the potential replacement for current number one man Odysseas Vlachodimos if the Greek international were to depart the club during the winter transfer market. Benfica's fine form this season has caught the attention of many of Europe's top clubs and Vlachodimos has already been linked with a move to Manchester United and Leicester City.

The 24 year old Rakow keeper has been a steady performer for the first place Polish club and has appeared in eighteen games across all competitions this season, keeping twelve clean sheets in the process. Kovacevic has also been linked with Scottish side Rangers and German club Bayer Leverkusen but the keeper has confirmed that he received an offer from Benfica during the summer and the Eagles are ready to return for Kovacevic if Vlachodimos departs.