Benfica - Estrela da Amadora Preview

Benfica will meet Estrela da Amadora in the 8th round of the Liga Sagres. Estrela who is currently 8th in the Liga Sagres has been going through financial hardship, as the players have not yet seen a paycheck this season. The players have threatened to strike, and have already gone forward with a formal forewarning to the league. Nonetheless, the financial crisis currently being lived by Estrela should not have any effects on this game.
It's easy to assume that the players will not have the correct motivation and will not put forth their best effort. But this won't be the case as the players will do everything possible to show their professionalism, in order to strenghten their cause. For Benfica, it's a must win game, as they will need to keep pace with leaders Leixoes, who defeated Sporting last night and continue to impress everyone.


Here's Quique's game roster list:

Keepers: Quim and Moreira;

Defenders: Luisão, Maxi Pereira, David Luiz, Jorge Ribeiro and Sidnei;

Midfielders: Reyes, Katsouranis, Aimar, Fellipe Bastos, Balboa, Binya, Carlos Martins and Yebda;

Forwards: Cardozo, Nuno Gomes and Suazo.

It's the official return of David Luiz to the Liga Sagres. After making his team debut in the Portuguese Cup, Luiz has made his first regular season game roster, relegating Miguel Vitor to a third line choice. Leo is currently in Brazil attending to his ill father, and will also not be part of Quique's choices. In the midfield, Reyes returns after serving a 1 game suspension, Fellipe Bastos and Balboa also made the list. Amorim and DiMaria are both fighting injuries and are not available for this match. Up Front, Benfica's usual attacking trio.

Despite showing a different tactical disposition against Aves(4-1-2-1-2), Quique should go back to his usual classic 4-4-2.
The starting 11 should go something like this - Quim in goal, back four untouched - Maxi, Luisao, Sidnei and Ribeiro. in the midfield Katsouranis and Yebda will most likely be in the middle, while Martins and Reyes will be on the flanks, with Martins playing in a more interior position of the right side. Aimar should support Suazo.
I don't see Quique changing the formation to what we saw against Aves, but I wouldn't dismiss it altogether. Time and again Quique has surprised with his choices, a change in formation would not be too far fetched.

All games are important and this one should be no exception. The needs to keep pace with Leixoes, the distance to porto and increase separation from Sporting are all important, but not more important than to continue to build on what the team as done so far, with consistency and visible growth.
There were tons of statistics being put out by the media this past week about Benfica's current position on the table and point tally. Many of them associating this season's early success with past season's championships.
It's an interesting fact the relation that these statiscs hold and their correlation to championships, but in my opinion, it is much too early. Yes, there is a clear tendency for a particular end result(championship), when there's similar success this early in the season, but , may i remind you, that championships are won with consistency and uniformity throughout the season.
Not only will Benfica need a successful beginning of the season, they will also need a successful middle and end, in order to hoist their 32nd domestic title. There's still a long way to go, and right now every Benfiquista should be happy with what the team has done so far, but they should control any tendencies to enter an euphoric state this early. One win at the time, and self dependency is what Benfica needs, and that will see us through.

Post Scriptum
Benfica has prohibited any Lusa Agency reporters from entering Benfica's stadium and club instalations. This is all because Lusa(Portuguese News Agency), published the bonus values of Benfica's administrators for last season. Don't be too surprised to read extremely biased reports in the papers and on the internet after today's game, also for the remainder of the season.