Benfica - Maritimo Game Preview

Benfica gets their 2009/2010 season underway this Sundaywhen they host Maritimo, at will most likely come close to being another sell out at Estadio Da Luz.
Maritimo finished last season in 9th and is always a team that fights for a spot in Europe.
It'll only be the second time Benfica opens the season at home in the past 10 years.
The home opener results aren't all that impressive, as Benfica has only won twice in those 10 years, one coming in Benfica's last championship year, 04/05.
While stats might not always be an indicator of what's to come, they certainly point to a certain tendency. It's that tendency that Benfica hopes to break by winning Sunday's game. The team comes off an impressive pre-season and are hoping they can keep bringing the fans to the stadium with impressive showings.


For the first official game of the season, JJ has called on the following plauers:

Keepers: Moreira and Quim.

Defender: Luisão, Sidnei, David Luiz and Shaffer.

Midfielders: Ruben Amorim, Javi Garcia, Aimar, Carlos Martins, César Peixoto and Yebda.

Forwards: Cardozo, Keirrison, Fábio Coentrão, Weldon, Di María, Nuno Gomes and Saviola.

19 players in all, which means one of them will watch the game from the stands. Besides the obvious absence of Maxi due to injury, Ramires didn't make the cut, as he continues to recuperate from an injury. Julio Cesar, Miguel Vitor, Roderick, Patric, Urreta, Mantorras, and Urreta were not part of JJ's plans for this game.

Looking at the game roster and judging by what i saw in the pre-season, I am projecting the following starting 11:

Quim. Amorim, Luisao, Sidnei adn David Luiz, from right to left. Javi Garcia, DiMaria, Martins and Aimar in the midfield. Saviola and Cardozo up front.

Maritimo is a team that likes to come out into the attack through their wings, and I think JJ will prefer David Luiz defensive play to Shaffer's more vertical game.


The team is confident, the stadium will be packed, and a win is the only acceptable result.
Failure to win can very well raise questions on whether the potential shown in pre-season is real or just a flash in the pan.
I know it's only the first game, and that with 29 games still to be played, a loss of 2 points or even 3 would seem irrelevant, but it's not a matter of points. It's a matter of being able to keep the fans with the team, it's the ability to keep bringing fans to the stadium and getting good gate receipts. It's a matter of making even the more skeptic fans believe.
It's a long season, but what better way to start the season with a win and get the snowball moving. The wave of support that was felt towards the end of the 04/05 season was what catapulted the team to the championship, if this team can get a hold of the fans and keep them, i'm sure everything else will be so much easier.