Looking ahead to February

The shortest month of the year will bring 6 games for Benfica. Between Bwin clashes, and the Portuguese Cup, Benfica will also play the first Uefa Cup round in February. Add a National team friendly date into the mix, and you have a very busy month for Benfica.


Here's a quick look

2/2 - Bwin - Nacional
2/6 - National team Friendlies
2/10 - Portuguese Cup - Pacos de Ferreira
2/14 - Uefa Cup 1st leg - Nurnberg
2/17 - Bwin @ Naval
2/21 - Uefa Cup Second leg - @ Nurnberg
2/24 - Bwin - Braga

Benfica will open up the month this weekend, when they host Nacional at Estadio da Luz. Nacional is currently 9th in the Bwin.

The following week, most of the nationals teams will be in action, as February 5th and 6th are FIFA designated dates for International friendlies. Away with their National teams will be: DiMaria, Cardozo, Maxi, Rodriguez, Katsouranis, Quim, Petit, Nuno Gomes, Luisao, and Sepsi. All of these players will not make their return to the team until Thursday to Friday(2/8) - Special attention should go towards the South American players, namely, DiMaria, Maxi, Rodriguez and Cardozo, who will have to travel to the American Continent to play their matches. Jetlag and lenghty travelling times will definetely be a factor and will condition how these players will come back to Benfica.

That weekend(2/10), the 5th round of the Portuguese Cup will be played. Benfica will host Pacos de Ferreira. Pacos de Ferreira is currently 15th and have not won a game away from home yet. Should be an easy game, but that will all depend on how healthy the "internationals" will return.

On February 14th, Benfica will open up their Uefa Cup campaign, at home against Nurnberg.

That following weekend(2/17) Benfica will travel to Naval for the Bwin. Naval is currently 14th in the Bwin.

February 21st will bring the second leg of the Uefa Cup and Benfica will travel to Germany to play Nurnberg.

To finish up the month(2/24), Benfica will host Braga, who is currently 7th in the Bwin. Braga is a very strong team and have picked up a couple of players to strengthen their squad, during the january transfer window.

Along with the 2 Uefa cup games, the game against Braga is probably the most crucial of the month, not only because of the degree of competitiveness and the worth of Braga, but because it is the game that preceeds Benfica's short trip to archrival's Sporting.