Well-prepared Benfica set sights on unprecedented fourth successive title

Benfica’s pre-season has been all around very positive: solid match results, good performances from recent signings and the structure’s ability to keep hold of major club assets.

The result seems to be a well-defined starting eleven for coach Rui Vitória.

Tiago Estêvão takes a look at how the squad of the three-times Portuguese champions shapes up ahead of 2016/17.

The departed Renato Sanches and Nico Gaitán were key for the Eagles last year - the latter was key for the past few seasons - but their places in the squad have been filled by men who only started wearing the red jersey this summer.

Perhaps surprisingly, André Horta took the team by storm with his pre-season performances and seems to be in the driver’s seat for the spot in the heart of midfield.

While his quality is there and there is little doubt he’ll be a useful, reliable, asset to the club all season long, the addition of Danilo is a very clever move by the Benfica staff. If Horta’s early season form starts to dip, there’s the quality Brazilian to take over the spot.

While Fejsa should keep his spot ruling the defensive end of the mid, the wing positions are likely to have different owners for the season. Cervi is set to replace Gaitán ever since he was announced last winter and the other side is up for debate. If Salvio stays, the Argentine will battle for a place on the right side with the always consistent Pizzi, a mainstay for the last two seasons.

Through the middle the squad seems set: centre-backs (Lindelöf and Jardel), centre forwards (Mitroglou and Jonas) and Júlio César in goal. Natural changes will happen at full-back on both flanks. An unfortunate injury sees Almeida start the season ruled out, with Nelson Semedo naturally taking over and on the left, the very questioned (but European Champion!) Eliseu seems to have been surpassed by the Spanish youngster Grimaldo.

The season will be a massive one in both importance and game quantity: Champions League, Portuguese League, Portuguese Cup and League Cup are all being approached by Benfica with the exact same ambition – to win (or to get as far as possible when it comes to the UCL), so all the other reinforcements are not a waste at all.

Carrillo, Zivkovic, Benitez, Celis and Kalaica will all provide coverage throughout the year while fighting for a spot in the eleven – just like the young Gonçalo Guedes, super-sub Raul Jimenez and Samaris.

The success of a big club in Portugal is very much influenced by the form of the other two – besides their own, obviously – so we’ll have to wait and see how the season starts but Benfica have two advantages right now. Playing the Super Cup is the first one, as it is not only a chance to win a trophy, but also provides an early trial for the eleven that will start the league away at Tondela.

Benfica is the Big Three team with the fewest changes relative to last year (taking into account the pressure Sporting still have to withstand to avoid selling one or more of their European Champions), which will also give the Eagles an incredible advantage. While two big players left, the basis is there and will continue to be.

By Tiago Estêvão