A Special Night

Perhaps a loss was not the best way to make their 09/10 debut to the fans, but considering the way the team played, many of us were left with a certain "satisfied" feeling. It was always going to be a special night, after all, it was the first time the team played at Estadio da Luz this season, but when you add the returns of Benfica's most popular player of the past 6 years, along with the fan favorite from last year, throw in the introduction of Benfica's two most expensive acquisitions for the coming season, and top it off with the return of our defensive leader, you have the makings of a good night to be at Estadio da Luz.

65,000 filled up Estadio da Luz to see the team and the new players up close. Patric, Shaffer, Saviola, Ramires and new face Javi Garcia were all at hand for their formal introductions.
Javi Garcia who was signed for 7 mil from Real Madrid came straight from putting the black on the white to the field, where he joined the rest of the team and Ramires, the only player to have topped him in value paid for.

On the other side, Simao and Reyes warmed up and were warmly greeted by the fans. Benfica's former captain was even honored before the game with a presentation of a symbolic gift by LFV.

JJ's starting 11 were:
Quim in goal; Maxi, David Luiz, Miguel Vitor and Sepsi in the back. Ruben Amorim was the man directly in front of the defense while DiMaria, Martins and Aimar formed the rest of the midfield diamond. Up front, Saviola and Cardozo.

Getting time in the second half were Moretto(in at the half)Shaffer(at the half), Roderick and Yebda(at 55')Ramires(60'), Fabio Coentrao and Nuno Gomes(64'),Moreira(78'), Patric and Mantorras(79'), and Urreta(85').
Jorge Ribeiro, Sidnei, Balboa, Luisao, Felipe Bastos and Javi Garcia did not get a chance to play.

A Few thoughts on the game....
Benfica gave up an early goal(11') but were able to even out the game midway through the half as Cardozo added another goal to his tally. The goal rewarded Benfica's rise in the game, but that rise was shutdown right before the half when the referee called a penalty on Benfica, this after he missed a blatant handball in Atl Madrid's box. The names change the incompetence continues.
With the first half finishing at 2-1, the second half was a a much different half, a slower game, mostly because of all of the changes being made by both sides. The only signs of excitement came from both Coentrao and Mantorras, who were both close to tying the game, but the game would eventually finish in favor of Simao's team.

Benfica's first half performance was an interesting one, and that was what we chose hold in our memory banks as relevant, mostly because the starting eleven mostly resembled the starting 11 that will play in the regular season. Off course had this game been a game with implications the story would have been a lot different.
JJ stated that the team gave their best performance of the season, and got the worst result, and the vast majority of the fans, myself included, feels the same way.

The growth and evolution of the team is noticeable, let's hope we can build on it.
The games that follow are all games of a higher difficulty, with teams that are entering the final stages of their pre-season.

# Photo Via - www.slbenfica.pt