Olympiacos - Benfica Preview

Benfica will play a critical match this Thursday when they travel to Greece to meet Olympiacos, in the 3rd round of the group stage of the UEFA Cup. Benfica is currently 4th in the group having only been able to tally 1 point from two matches played. Olympiacos on the other hand, as yet to add any points to their tally but have only played one game thus far.
For Benfica it's a must win game, if they are to remain in control of their destiny. A tie would be the lesser of the two evils, but it would leave too much to a dependency of other results in the group.

For this trip Quique called on 20 players:

Keepers: Quim, Moreira and Moretto;
Defenders: David Luiz, Sidnei, Miguel Vítor, Maxi Pereira and Jorge Ribeiro;
Midfielders: Reyes, Katsouranis, Balboa, Fellipe Bastos, Ruben Amorim, Urreta, Binya, Carlos Martins and Yebda;
Forwards: Cardozo, Nuno Gomes and Suazo.

The most obvious absences are the ones of Aimar and Luisao. If you recall, Luisao finished the Academica game complaining about an injury. Aimar had gone out to warm up in that game, but returned to the bench with complaints about his right hamstring. Both players are obviously not in their best conditions and stayed in Portugal.
Fellipe Bastos and Urreta fill in for the absentees, with one of them possibly watching the game from the stands, as Quique can only dress 18 players, the other one most likely being Moretto.
Katsouranis who had been sent home from Coimbra due to a virus in his upper respiratory system, is back and poised to reach the 100 game mark with a Benfica jersey.

Here's my prediction for the starting line up - Quim in goal, Maxi, Sidnei, David Luiz and Ribeiro on the left of the defense. Yebda and Katsouranis in the middle, Amorim and Reyes on the flanks. Up front it'll be Nuno Gomes supporting Suazo.

It'll be the return of David Luiz to his natural position, along with Sidnei, they will form, what many think to be, the future of Benfica's central defender core. Amorim provides balance to the classic 4-4-2, I don't see him not playing, barring any last minute problem. Reyes, Suazo and Nuno Gomes, are practically shoe ins for this game. The first 2 are Benfica's most dangerous and offensive men, while Nuno Gomes, seems to be a great complement for the two. Benfica's captain is going through a good period of form, proving that scoring goals isn't always a measure of success.

Nothing to it, Benfica needs to come out with a win. Personally i don't subscribe to Quique's statement that a tie wouldn't be a bad result. I agree that it's better than a loss, but such statement takes away from the importance, and the need to come out with your head up high, and one foot in the next round. In the very post before this one i went through the various possibilities of qualifying, tying or losing this game, would leave too much to chance and too much to assumption, football is not a game of chance much less assumption.

Sure it will be a hostile atmosphere and the crowd can be a factor, but Benfica has players talented enough to silence the crowd. That will be one of the keys to the game. The other one lies on Benfica's midfield and its ability to control that sector of the field. Expect Katsouranis to have a good game in front of his countrymen, which will have a direct effect on the above mentioned midfield control.