Benfica - P.Ferreira Game Preview

After what was arguably one of the best performances of the season against porto, Benfica will now face a much different team in P.Ferreira in a game that has all the makings of a trap game.
P.Ferreira is currently in 12th place, having only won one game outside their stadium this season. In the first round the two teams played to a 7 goal tally, and Benfica came out on top, but what was left of the game was Benfica's inability to defend and put the game to sleep allowing the P.Ferreira men to get 3 goals.


For this game, Quique has called on the following players:

Keepers: Moreira and Quim

Defenders: Luisão, David Luiz, Sidnei, Miguel Vítor and Jorge Ribeiro;

Midfielders: Katsouranis, Balboa, Ruben Amorim, Binya, Yebda, Aimar and Carlos Martins

Forwards: Cardozo, Mantorras, Nuno Gomes, Reyes and Di María

Maxi will serve his 1 game suspension from picking up his 5th yellow. Also out but for different reasons is David Suazo, who came back from injury against porto, and then flew to South America for a midweek qualification match for Honduras. He will get the rest, as he will need to be refreshed to what's to come. Mantorras fills in for Suazo.

Quique will most likely go with the following 11:
Moreira in goal, Miguel Vitor, Luisao, Sidnei and David Luiz. Although i wouldn't discount Quique sitting out Luisao, as he is on the verge of picking up his fifth yellow, and if that happens, he would have to automatically sit out against Sporting. In the even that Luisao sits, we should see David Luiz drift to the middle and Ribeiro back in his left back position.
In the midfield, Yebda is also on the verge of picking his 5th yellow card, he will most likely partner up with Katsouranis, but just like in Luisao's cases, Carlos Martins is also an option to protect the Frenchmen for the Sporting game. On the flanks, Reyes and Amorim should be the chosen ones. Up Front, Cardozo and Aimar.

Not a very difficult game on paper, but hard game nonetheless. Benfica comes off a good performance, and has had problems stringing together 2 good outings all season. With the Sporting game on the horizon, and then Leixoes, whilst Sporting and porto will play each other that round, it's very important for Benfica to come out with the maximum points tonight so that they can go into the next 2 weeks still very much in contention.

The key to this game is to keep the same level of concentration that the team demonstrated against porto. The players can not let up, and think that the result will come to them. That is the reason why i think that this is a trap game, as the team can't think that their performance against porto will just be there at a flip pf a switch. The team will need to dig deep and find a way to tap into the source again.
That is the key to this game, being humble enough, and working hard enough to be able to put out a quality performance, much like the one we saw a week ago. If that happens we will get the win.