Benfica - D.Aves Portuguese Cup Preview

After squeezing by 3rd flight Penafiel in the last round of the Portuguese Cup, Benfica faces another lower flight team in the next round of the competition when they meet Desportivo das Aves. Desportivo das Aves is currently 10th in the Liga Vitalis(2nd flight) and has two Benfica players in their ranks. Romeu Ribeiro and Ruben Lima have been on loan at Aves since last year. If you recall, Ribeiro was used by Camacho in the beggining of last season, but was shipped up north during the winter break last season and has remained at Aves. The same applies to Ruben Lima, except he has not yet made is official debut for Benfica. Despite the good relations between the two clubs don't expect any let up by Aves, who sees this game against Benfica as the game of the year for them.


Quique called on the following players:

Keepers: Moreira and Moretto.
Defenders: Luisão, Léo, Maxi Pereira, David Luiz, Sidnei and Miguel Vítor
Midfielders: Katsouranis, Aimar, Balboa, Binya, Carlos Martins and
Yebda.
Forwards: Urreta, Cardozo, Nuno Gomes and Suazo.

Portuguese cup and league cup games are always occasions for the fringe players to get some playing time, and that is evident by the list that Quique as put together.
Quim and Jorge Ribeiro get the rest in from the defensive unit, David Luiz is the biggest piece of news for this game. The young Brazilian has yet to make his official 08/09 debut, after logging 30 minutes in the Liga Intercalar, Luiz seems to be out of his recuperation phase and has joined the team in full training with no restrictions. In the midfield, Balboa returns after being absent from the past game roster sheets, the Guinean has struggled to adapt and is quickly turning into the biggest disappointment of the season, considering Benfica paid 4m for him.
Reyes, DiMaria and Amorim did not make the list, the first is currently serving a 1 game ban for a double yellow against Guimaraes. Amorim and DiMaria are affected by slight injuries and will not be available. Up front, Makukula, who started in the last Portuguese Cup game, has been left out, while Urreta sees himself part of Quique's choices.
All of the big guns are also part of the forward choices, as Quique will not let the same thing happen that happened against Penafiel.

It's hard to speculate on the chosen 11 by Quique, but here it goes.

Moreira in goal. Maxi, Luisao, Sidnei and Leo in the back. Katsouranis and Martins in the middle, Urreta on the left Balboa on the right. Nuno Gomes will support Cardozo.
Other alternatives can include Miguel Vitor on the right of the defense. I am not expecting David Luiz to start but it's possible he can get a few minutes if the game goes out of reach, this off course following the same logical approach that Quique used with Aimar, slow integration. There's also a possibility that Binya and Martins will form the center midfield tandem, the latter one can also be one of the alternatives to the right of the midfield. Up front I'm expecting Suazo and Aimar to be Quique's aces in the hole, Cardozo should get the start and Nuno gomes will most likely support him, with Aimar being the alternative.

Figuring out the starting 11 for this game is as difficult as guessing the final score.
One thing is for sure, whoever the 11 are, you can be sure that they will be prepared to play as Quique does not want another Penafiel repeat.

It's another chance for the team to show their progress. It's also a chance to show that this past Thursday's defeat has been digested, whether it's a second line Benfica or not.
The players who are getting a chance can't look at the opportunity as a just reward for their hard working in training, they should be looking at this opportunity to show Quique that they are ready to be called on. With Quique being a coach that likes to rotate players in and out of the line up, being in the front line is always a plus.