Carlsberg Cup Preview - Estrela - Benfica

Benfica plays Estrela da Amadora this wednesday on a match for the Carlsberg Cup, aka League Cup. Being that it's a cup game and it's still in the early stages Camacho has decided to rest some of the starters while giving opportunities to the less used players. It will be Benfica's second game in 4 days, and with the Lisbon Derby just around the corner, it is wise to rest some of the key players.
Camacho has called up the following players:
Quim, Butt, with the German most likely to get the notch in goal. For the defensive sector Camacho has called: Luis Filipe, Luisao, Zoro, Miguelito, Miguel Vitor and Nelson. Luisao will start along side of Zoro or Miguel Vitor, Camacho hasn't had a chance to see Zoro in action and this is the perfect time, so i think he will start. Luisao is coming off an injury and needs competitive rhythm same goes for Nelson which should start on the right side while Luis Filipe will sit and be there as a back up, Miguelito, which has earned his first call up, will probably start on the left. Choices for the midfield will be: Andres Diaz, Binya, Cristian Rodriquez, Maxi Pereira, Nuno Assis, and Romeu Ribeiro. Binya will once again play defensive mid while Nuno Assis will play in Rui Costa's spot, Cristian rodriguez and Maxi will repeat the positions they occupied on Sunday against Braga.. For the attack these will be the men available to Camacho: Di Maria, Fabio Coentrao, Yu Dabao, and Freddy Adu. Di Maria will start again in a center forward supportive role while the center forward position will probably given to Yu Dabao. The only sector remaining the same from Sunday will be the midfield, the defense will most likely be brand new, yet, as good as Sunday's 4 man team.
Estrela da Amadora which is 1-2-2 in the Bwin Liga so far, looks to be an accessible opponent yet playing at home, they can make things difficult for Benfica.. Benfica need to come out strong and score early to take them out of the game.. Look for a good performance from Di Maria as well as Binya, the Cameroonian will look to build up on Sunday's performance in order to remain a permanent fixture in the starting 11. With Luisao's eminent comeback to the center of the defense, the return of Katsouranis to his normal role is more than obvious, Katsouranins is at this moment one of Camacho's favorite players, not only for his versatility but for his great performances. Binya will be looking to prove he is the man for the job, while Petit recovers from knee surgery. Maxi will need to play better if he wants to keep his spot on the right side of the midfield. Up front Dabao will try to establish himself as a choice man, with Mantorras back in training he knows he must show what he is capable of or he might go on loan in january, as Benfica will hit the market looking for a goal scorer. On another note, it's Adu's first call under Camacho, he will undoubtedly be ready, he needs to compete with Nuno Assis for the number 2 CM position and chances like this might not come too often, after not earning call ups for the league games, he needs to be ready if he is called on. If the game turns one sided quickly, look for Adu to come off the bench, to either play in a CM position or in Di Maria's position, which will most likely be saved for this weekends important match we can most likely expect Fabio Coentrao, in for Rodrigues.
Benfica needs to win in order to gather momentum going into the important weekend clash with Sporting, and after the tie in Braga the supporters have begun to doubt the teams capability to fight with their closest rivals for the League, already 6 point behind of Porto, Benfica will need to get back on track, and while this is only a game for the League Cup, it will serve not only as a momentum builder as well as a chance for players to show Camacho they can be options.