porto - Benfica Preview

Benfica will try to get first place back this Sunday when they visit leaders porto. With 13 other games yet to be played after this one, this game is far from taking on the label of title decider, but will very much serve to give the winner a boost of confidence in their quest for the title. Statistically, Benfica has only won twice in the past 30 years when making the trip up north, but this season has been a season of breaking tendencies, and getting away from poor results, time to break another one.


For this game Quique has called on the following players:

Keepers: Moreira and Quim

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

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

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

Moretto now seems to be Benfica's third goalkeeper as Quim is now back in the game roster for league matches. Last weekend's hero, Mantorras, did not make the list as Suazo is once again healthy.

Tough to say who Quique will line up with, there's a couple of doubts in my mind.
I'm sure that Moreira, Maxi, Luisao and David Luiz will all be in the back, the big question in this sector is - who will partner up with Luisao? Will it be Miguel Vitor, who has deserved Quique's confidence? Or will Sidnei return to the spot that made him the player with the most minutes at one point in the season?
In the midfield, Katsouranis will be in the middle with Martins, while Amorim and Reyes will be on the flanks. I wouldn't rule out Yebda from the middle, but at this point Martins is on a clear ascendant of form and Quique should go with him. Another factor that will probably give Martins the advantage over Yebda is the fact that Martins is very familiar with the rivalry.
Up front, Aimar will be the supporter, while the other forward will depend a lot on how Suazo is physically. Suazo was fully reintegrated in training this past Friday, after being sidelined with an injury, but Quique as often left out players from the starting line up when they are coming off injuries. Cardozo, who has been playing well, and has made an argument for a starting spot, may very well get the start. Quique will keep the cards to his chest until it's time to reveal them.

Essentially it'll come down to who wants it more, obviously the advantage has to go to porto, as they are the home team, but Benfica needs to show the desire to win the game. It's a big game, expect big game players to emerge for Benfica, the likes of Aimar, Reyes, and Suazo know what it is to play in a big game, they should be the first ones to step up.

In the first half, Benfica played well but was unfortunate to go down a goal early and have to chase after the result. Let's hope the team can hold it's own this time and come out with a positive result.


If you live in the North American Continent, you may already know that this game, just like all the games between the big three, will not be available for residential customers of SPT. If you want to watch the game live, you will have to go to your local Portuguese bar that carries the games. Not all bars carry these games so call ahead.

i will try to get as many stream links up as possible right up until game time.