Benfica 1 - Nurnberg 0 - Makukula's First

Benfica started their UEFA Cup Campaign with a win. A win that despite being a win, is a very tricky result for the second leg in Germany. The 1-0 aggregate seems like a very small advantage when you take into consideration that Benfica will have to play in Germany before a packed house, full of enthusiastic supporters. If the Nurnberg supporters, in attendance(5,000+) last night, were any indication of what Benfica will expect in Germany, then Benfica will be in for a long night, as the Nurnberg supporters will be behind their team, hoping to act like the 12th man and push Nurnberg to the next round. On the other hand, Benfica could have been a lot more ambitious and come out with a larger margin victory.


There's no doubt in my mind that Benfica is currently going through a less favorable period, in which the team can't seem to find an identity, and lives off individual efforts, as the team as a whole, lacks the confidence to take it to the next level.

Camacho opted for the following 11:

Quim in goal. Nelson, Luisao, Katsouranis and Leo in defense. Petit as the lone d-mid. Rui Costa, Assis and Rodriguez supporting Cardozo and Makukula.

A new look from Camacho for yesterday's game. He dropped Katsoranis into the center of the defense, to serve as a central defender while also using his flexibility to join the midfield, leaving the team with 3 defenders in the back. Both David Luiz and Edcarlos were on the bench, which just goes to prove Camacho's intentions of using Katsouranis, both in defense and midfield.
Up front Camacho went with Cardozo and Makukula for the first time from the start.

Benfica started the game a bit nervous and cautious, and soon, it was Nurnberg who tried to take control of the game, by winning the midfield battle. With Petit showing signs that he still isn't 100%, Nurnberg's midfielders were able to take control of the midfield, while Benfica struggled to take control of the game allowing Nurnberg to assume control of the game, despite the visitors only playing with the giant Kholer up front.
In the attack, Benfica continues to find difficulty in connecting the different sectors with flow of play. Presently, Benfica depends a lot on Rui Costa's transition game and what he does when he carries the ball into the attack. It was from one of those incursions that Benfica scored their lone goal. At the 43rd minute, Rui Costa went on a dribble, attracting the attention of the Nurnberg men which in turn opened up a passing lane to Makukula who was able to sneak past the defense and fire a shot which hit the ground and fooled the goalkeeper, who could have done a lot better. It was the first Benfica shot on target and only one of the half, which summarizes the lack of dangerous situations for Benfica. In defense, both Quim and Luisao, were impecable, the first one with a couple of goal saving saves, Luisao for the job he did on Kholer. Benfica couldn't have asked for a better result, up by 1 at the half and knowing that they didn't play their best and that the goal had been a gift from the heavens or from Nurnberg's keeper Blazek. - you pick.

In the second half, Benfica seemed a bit more comfortable and played a little better, touching the ball around and coming closer to Nurnberg's goal, but with no clear chances of goal. Camacho subbed DiMaria for Cardozo, and moved Assis into the 9 slot, in hopes of controlling the midfield. The move resulted, and Benfica was now more consistent in midfield, with Petit, Rui Costa and Assis combining well to maintain posession and at the same time control of the midfield. Nurnberg, didn't show much, with the exception of a few isolated plays, in which Quim responded well.
At the 85th minute mark, Camacho made a double subtitution, David Luiz and Freddy Adu came into the game for Rodriguez and Assis respectively. A change that served to refresh the sectors, but one can argue that it could have been done earlier, as Benfica's midfield was running out of gas.

Benfica comes away with the win and showed difficulties in penetrating the German's well organized defense. In Germany, Nurnberg will show a different look as they will need to come out and try to turn around the result, this will undoubtedely play into Benfica's game which will most likely be back to the 4-2-3-1.

A few words before i finish, Benfica NEEDS to play a lot better if they have aspirations of going far in the Uefa Cup. Even though they were able to come away with the win, Benfica was playing against a team that is currently in the relegation zone of the Bundesliga, as has the obligation to win, and win convincingly, 2 shots on goal during the whole game, and probably 6 all together. The team continues to show apathy and a lack of confidence that should have been overcome a long time ago. I also have to think that the team should have fought harder for the 2nd goal, but seemed comformed with the little lead they had. It'll not be easy in Germany and i'm not so sure that Benfica can advance to the next round if they play the same way.

highlights