Benfica 1 - Estrela da Amadora 0 - Snorefest

One more round behind us and another 3 points in the bag. Perhaps leaving this post like this and forgetting about the game would be ideal, as tonight's performance was one to be quickly forgotten. You may think I'm an ingrate or too demanding, but with the quality Benfica possesses and what they are capable of, you can't be happy with tonight's performance. Yes, it was a win and we continue to keep pace with the leaders, but when the team reveals the apathy and the lackadaisical attitude they showed tonight, it bothers me.


Quique repeated the same tactical formation from the Portuguese Cup, the diamond 4-4-2(4-1-2-1-2), with Katsouranis on the bottom of the diamond, Martins and Yebda on the sides, and Aimar up top. Up front it was Nuno Gomes supporting Suazo.
All week there was talk of this new tactical disposition, and questions were raised on whether Quique would go back to it, or if the diamond 4-4-2 was an experiment that could only be done because of the weakness of the opponent in the Portuguese Cup.
I gave the the two formations some thought and despite the diamond 4-4-2 being a more dynamic and attacking formation, i anticipated the team to come out in the classic 4-4-2. After all, Reyes was back, and it was hard to imagine that Quique would fore go using Reyes, as the diamond 4-4-2 is not the ideal formation for a winger.
Time and time again Quique has gone with a different logic, and sure enough, the Spaniard was relegated to the bench. I don't know if it was a deliberate move or if Quique was protecting Reyes. You may have noticed that the Spaniard had, what it look like, a cast on his left hand. He made a deliberate effort to keep it hidden under his long sleeves and i noticed him protecting that hand from a fall on one occasion. Perhaps that will be revealed during the week.

On to the game....
An incredibly boring first 45 minutes, with no real chances for either part. Benfica played at a scrimmage rhythm and the many wrong passes coming from the midfield didn't help the situation either.
In the second half, the team seemed to respond to Quique's half time words and looked to give more speed to the game. It was during the initial 10 minutes of the second half, that Benfica played their best, reaching the lone goal in the 50th minute. Sidnei, who is now the team's second best scorer, behind Cardozo, got a ball from Nuno Gomes at the edge of the box and drilled a low shot towards the right corner. It was the obvious result to the increased speed of play, but after that Benfica threw it back in first and brought back some more of what we had seen in the first half.
Cardozo, Reyes and Binya also got minutes, but not even their presence changed the slow, monotonous game Benfica played tonight.

Individually

Quim - 6 (not much work)
Maxi - 7
Luisao - 6
Sidnei - 7
Ribeiro - 7
Katsouranis - 7
Yebda - 7
Martins - 5
Aimar - 7
Nuno Gomes - 7
Suazo - 7

Reyes - 6
Cardozo - 6
Binya - 6

For one thing, as long as the team keeps winning the pressure and criticism will remain to stay off, but a team like Benfica, with the talent that they have, should be able to present themselves at a better level. Martins seems to be in a downward spiral; after showing himself at a good level in the beginning of the season, his relegation to the bench seems to have affected him, and he was by far one of the players well below their capabilities.

This week the team will now lose several players to international duty, but will enter a crucial stage of the season, with games against Academica and Setubal with a midweek clash in Greece in between, to determine Benfica's future in the UEFA Cup.