UEFA Wrap Up

I have very little desire to write about this past thursday's game. The possibilities of advancing to the next round bordered on the odds of getting struck by lightning. What we really needed was solid performance that allowed the team to get off the field with their head held up why. Instead, it was the corollary of a miserable European campaign, that feels like a residual effect from last year's season.

It was a terrible campaign for Benfica in the UEFA Cup this year, after beating a very strong Napoli in the prelims, Benfica entered the group stages with a pool of adversaries that left Benfiquistas thinking that advancement into the next round was very possible, especially when the first 3 places advanced. The luck of the draw dictated that Hertha Berlin, Galatasaray, Metalist and Olympiakos be drawn into group B with Benfica. Benfica's scheduled involved going into Berlin, hosting Galatasaray, traveling to Greece, and hosting Metalist in the final round.
Not too bad of a schedule, considering a tough opening game to a favorite's pitch and a closing match at home with the team that, on paper, was considered the least favorite to come out of the group.

The tie in Germany was seen as a good result, but Benfica couldn't build up on that and dropped 3 points to Galatasaray at Estadio da Luz. Benfica then traveled to Greece with the added pressure of having to come out with the positive result to keep their hopes alive, instead Benfica got a nail, or rather five, in the coffin and pretty much sealed their faith in the competition.
The last game of the group stages, against the dark horse of the group, and eventual group winner,was merely a date to fulfill as far as Benfica's future.
Quique decided he would rest players in the last game, and give a chance to the less used players to show themselves. Miguel Vitor, Fellipe Bastos, and Urreta all got significant minutes. Cardozo and Yebda, got a chance to impress Quique as they have fallen off the starting positions they once held. With a line up with this many changes, the difference in play will be noticed, but the performance of some of the players was very far from what the fans expected. Yebda seems unrecognizable, i understand that perhaps playing out of position can have a negative affect on you, but Yebda was just someone else in this game. Fellipe Bastos continues very wet behind the ears, trying to do too much at the time. Bastos has tremendous talent but he still needs a lot of maturing. Urreta, is also a player with great potential, desire and motivation, but just like Bastos, young.
Cardozo is the type of player that needs continuous playing time to get in his grove. We all know he has his limitations, and that he is not the quickest of players, but he brings certain qualities to the line up that no one else currently does. For one, his height will always an advantage, regardless of how good his aerial game is, and then there's the powerful left foot, which, not only present a constant threat from the outside of the box, it is also the foot from which Benfica got some free kick goals last year, something that seems very rare this year. Off course one can argue that Suazo is way better than Cardozo, but are there no chances of them playing together?
Another word on David Luiz - David Luiz has been playing left back since Ribeiro got hurt, that is not his natural position, but the young Brazilian does the best he can, but his latest performances have been leaving somewhat of a bitter taste in my mouth. His talent is unquestionable, let's hope this brief period at left back doesn't have any effects on his return to the middle of the defense.
Balboa and DiMaria also got minutes against Metalist, the Argentinean returning from a 6 week absence, the Guinean once again failing to impress. 5 million, and so far a bust in my opinion.

With the Portuguese Cup and UEFA Cup gone, Benfica will now have to turn to the Liga Sagres, but they will have to show some kind of a pulse, after coming off two competition ending losses. Going into the break ahead of the pack would do great for the team, who now has porto breathing down their necks in the league.