Academica 0 - Benfica 2 - See You Next Year

The last time Academica had lost at home for the league was last year, when Benfica visited. Just like the uncomfortable feeling you get from the annual visit of a distant relative, this year's visit from Benfica to Coimbra was no different for the home team, as Coimbra has proved to be a home away from home for Benfica, who have not lost in this city for almost 35 years. Benfica came away with 3 points, in a performance that was not showy, but efficient. Still, Benfica did enough to come away the just winners, as they not only put an end to Academica's home streak, but build up on a streak of their own, with a 4 game winning streak.


As expected, Quique fielded another surprising 11.

Quim was in goal, the back four were: Maxi, Luisao, Sidnei and David Luiz on the left. In the midfield, it was Yebda and Binya in the middle while Ruben Amorim and Reyes took over the flanks. Up front, Nuno Gomes supported Cardozo.

The biggest surprise of the night was David Luiz's start on the left side. While the right side of the defense has experienced very little changes and was initially considered Benfica's weakest position of the defense, the left side has now known 3 different players throughout this season. Off course that does not mean that Quique has yet to find a steady starter, it only means that the left side is deep.
This week a news article surfaced about the possible intentions of Gremio moving to acquire Leo in the January transfer window, i don't know if the article holds any truth, what i know is that after tonight's start by David Luiz, the newspapers will have a field day with the "potential" destinations for Leo.
In the midfield, Binya jumped into the starting 11, after Katsouranis was scratched off due to an upper respiratory virus. Up front, Cardozo got the nod, while Nuno Gomes continues to deserve Quique's confidence. Suazo who I had anticipated to start on the bench, did just that, in an effort to rest him ahead of the all important UEFA Cup match this upcoming Thursday. Aimar also started on the bench. He did not figure in any pre-game injury reports, but during his warm up to come into the game, the Argentinean complained of a pain to his right hamstring and Quique decided to keep him out of the game.

Onto the game...

Benfica started the game well, dominant, with the initiative, but the Academica men seemed to be very compact and defended well while occupying passing lanes efficiently. Despite being the team with less initiative, Academica was the team that had the first close chance to open the scoreboard, as a long range shot, after a poor clearance by Benfica, hit the crossbar of Quim's goal. Unfazed by the home team's threat Benfica kept on, moving the ball around well and with a bit more pace then what we had seen against Estrela. The constant changes of flanks, using the long ball, were also effective in making Academica adjust their defensive shape, as in the middle, Academica was putting up a well organized wall that Benfica was having problems surpassing. Benfica would eventually put to rest any anxiety half time might bring with a goal in the 31st minute. A classic Nuno Gomes style play that Amorim gave his best conclusion to. Nuno Gomes received the ball at the top of the box, shielded and waited for the cut by Amorim, before putting a perfect through ball for Amorim, who scored his first ever Benfica goal.
It was not only a goal that rewarded the domination that Benfica had up until that point, but also a goal that sent the team into the locker room in a relaxed state.

No changes for the second half by Quique, who saw Benfica add to their tally 2 minutes into the half, when Reyes was brought down in the box, and Cardozo executed from the spot. In all honesty, the call could have gone either way, I have seen more contact being waved on, but there is clear contact by the Academica defender on Reyes. Clear call if you ask me, if you want to use the bias the league's referees have accustomed us to, you might see it differently.
The second goal put the game to rest and Academica who had been almost nonexistent in the attack up until that point, seemed to fade completely. Quique made his first change at the hour mark, as he brought on Suazo for the inconsequential Cardozo. Although Quique didn't really need additional fire power, the decision to bring Suazo on, is in reality, a smart decision by Quique, who gave the player a chance to maintain competitive rhythm.
Having played this past Wednesday, it would have been 9 days until the next competitive game for Suazo, had he not played tonight. That type of a lay off can be prejudicial for certain players, especially this early in the season.
Suazo still had time to change the scoreboard after beating his closest defender to a ball the Academica keeper came out to get, Suazo put the ball perfectly over the keeper, but saw the upright deny him.
Two more changes were done in the 81st and 86th minute, when Jorge Ribeiro came in for Amorim and Balboa came in for Reyes, but the score would remain the same until the final whistle.

An important win for Benfica who is able to continue to stalk leaders Leixoes, who hold a 1 point advantage. It wasn't one of those performances that left the feeling of total dominance, but one of consistency.
There are many obvious changes from this year to years past, but to me the most obvious one, is the team's consistent defensive performances. There's a certain consistency in the way this team defends, and that is visible from game to game. The team is far from being the well oiled machine we all expect it to be, but there's a clear identity to this team, and that defensive consistency makes up for much of that identity.
The players seem to be in sync with each other and the team moves as a whole inside the pitch, something that Quique strives for.
Another difference from years past, has to be the bench. I remember watching games last year, or even in the year before, and seeing the team struggling and thinking that there's absolutely no one on the bench that can come in a make a difference. This year is totally different, if you consider the players that were on the bench - Suazo, Martins, Aimar, Ribeiro, all players that at any given Sunday can be starters. That is one of the biggest differences also this year.
Kudos to Quique, who since day 1 has given the players the impression(and shown it too) that you have to be ready to play, you have to work hard in training, because you never know when opportunity is going to knock. At this point there are very few players that feel they can't start at any given Sunday. The one's who don't, work hard to be part of that group, and that can only help the team as a whole.

This coming Thursday Benfica plays a very crucial and tough game in Greece. It can be a decisive game as our aspirations to make it through to the next round of the UEFA Cup depend heavily on the result. Let's hope the team can carry some of the momentum into Thursday and get back the 3 points we gave up at home against Galatasaray.