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| Monday, 26 March 2012 22:57 |
Preview: Benfica – ChelseaEagles aim for semi-final return Despite tonight’s Champions League quarter-final first leg being the first time that Benfica and Chelsea have met in a competitive context, shared history hangs heavy in the air around the Estadio da Luz, as the Eagles’ season approaches critical mass. Ben Shave previews a mouthwatering encounter.
They say that wherever you go, your past stays with you. Benfica were handed a reminder of this fact on the eve of their biggest game in recent memory, with the news that Joao Vale e Azevedo, the former club president responsible for some of the worst financial excesses ever seen in Portuguese football, had launched an appeal against his extradition from the UK.  Azevedo was elected as Benfica’s youngest ever president in 1997, but his reign collapsed in 2000 amidst accusations of embezzlement, tax evasion and widespread fraud. The smooth-talking former lawyer spent time behind bars for a variety of offences, before being granted parole and leaving Portugal for London in 2008, with Benfica still in the grips of drawn-out, painful financial reform. Now, it appears, the Portuguese justice system wants him back. As Benfica went one way, Chelsea went another. The millions of Roman Abramovich have provided a model for countless football administrators around the world. In the laissez-faire world of English football governance, the only requirements are bulging pockets and an appetite for drama. Yet for all the coaches, all the players and all the success, Abramovich still craves what he views as the ultimate prize: the Champions League. It is a hunger that everyone associated with Benfica can relate to. Last week’s announcement that the Estadio da Luz would host the 2014 final of European football’s showcase event provoked an intense outpouring of pride, but many of those beating the drum may well have also been struck by a faint sense of saudades – it has been 22 years since the club progressed beyond the quarter-final stage of a competition that defines it in so many ways.  From Eusebio’s three-minute bis at Amsterdam’s Olympisch Stadion in 1962, to the iconic image of Portugal’s greatest ever player letting fly against AC Milan at Wembley in 1963, to the famous tale of Bela Guttmann’s curse that (to some) explains Benfica’s five losing finals since they lifted a second consecutive European Cup in the Netherlands; European nights are the most accurate method of tracing Benfica’s storied history. Now, despite their indifferent recent form on the Liga front, the Eagles find themselves at the sharp end of the fight for club football’s most prestigious prize. Friday’s ill-tempered stalemate against Olhanense and a surrendering of the title initiative to Braga and Porto ought to count for little at the Luz tonight: throughout his time at the club, Jorge Jesus has spoken bullishly of his Champions League ambitions. By that metric at any rate, this is where Jesus and his side want to be.  Despite the significance of the occasion, the Benfica coach does have one notable absentee: Ezequiel Garay, who was stretchered off against Porto just under four weeks ago. The Argentine centre back has not recovered his fitness in time to feature in tonight’s squad, which reads as follows:Artur, Eduardo; Jardel, Luisao, Miguel Vitor; Capdevila, Emerson, Maxi Pereira; Aimar, Bruno Cesar, Gaitan, Javi Garcia, Matic, Nolito, Witsel; Cardozo, Nelson Oliveira, Rodrigo, Saviola. In Garay’s absence, Jardel will partner Luisao in the centre of defence. The Brazilian made a tentative start to his Benfica career, but has deputised ably over the last few weeks, and appears to have earned the trust of his coach. Elsewhere, it is extremely unlikely that Jesus will make any radical alterations to the 4-2-3-1 formation that has served him so well on the big occasion this season.  A newfound willingness to adjust tactically is one of Jorge Jesus' strengths, but arguably his finest quality lies in an innate ability to foster a fierce sense of togetherness amongst his players – something that Abramovich has long coveted in his coaches. This season’s Benfica squad project the appearance of a tightly-knit group, and Nico Gaitan’s assertion in the build-up to tonight’s game that “we fear nobody” reflects this. Immediately following the draw, Jesus opined that it was a favourable one for his side, “as we have adapted well to English teams in the past.” Benfica drew widespread praise following a pair of group stage draws with Manchester United earlier this season, but perhaps the most telling source of optimism can be found in their opponent’s recent displays.  Jesus also expressed his happiness with the prospect of coming up against former charges Hilario (who spent a season under Jesus at Estrela da Amadora in 1998/99), Paulo Ferreira (who earned a move to Porto after two impressive campaigns under Jesus at Vitoria de Setubal between 2000-02), David Luiz and Ramires (who of course formed part of the celebrated 2009/10 squad). In a moment uncharacteristically lacking in bombast, the Benfica coach declared that “they made me the coach that I am today”, and the return of Luiz and Ramires to the Luz promises to be a moment to remember for both players. Like Benfica, Chelsea were held to a goalless draw at the weekend, at home to Tottenham. Roberto Di Matteo’s side were largely disjointed throughout, and but for a subdued performance from Luka Modric, Harry Redknapp’s men might well have left Stamford Bridge with three points instead of one. The fluid exchange of passes between Pablo Aimar, Axel Witsel and Bruno Cesar that characterise Benfica’s midfield play should, in theory, give Chelsea much to ponder, as should the speed with which the Eagles are capable of mounting a counter-attack.  Perhaps the key area of concern for Benfica lies in their tendency to concede goals. In nine home matches since the turn of the year, the Eagles have kept three clean sheets. If the net is widened to include the entire campaign to date, the figure becomes an equally troubling seven in 23. Admittedly their most recent European match at the Luz was a measured, controlling 2-0 win over Zenit St. Petersburg, but whilst Jorge Jesus will be looking to travel with a lead, he ought also to be mindful of the crucial role that away goals can play in the knockout phase of continental competitions. Yet in nearly three years at the Luz, and two decades as a coach, the 57 year-old has established a well-deserved reputation for gung-ho attacking football; and given Chelsea’s inconsistency this season, Benfica will surely be optimistic about their chances. Their former President might be on the way down, but the fate of this current vintage remains very much up for grabs. Likely Benfica starting XI: Artur; Maxi Pereira, Jardel, Luisao, Emerson; Javi Garcia, Axel Witsel; Gaitan, Aimar, Bruno Cesar; Cardozo. Likely Chelsea starting XI: Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, David Luiz, Cole; Lampard, Essien, Ramires; Mata, Torres, Sturridge. Ben Shave |
No excuses.
Go make us proud.
FORCA
Viva Portugal
We should get the win at home, the problem as always is keeping a clean sheet as I feel the away goal rule could really come into play on this one. Here’s hoping for a 2-0 win.
Chelsea also don't play with a lot of width, so we must try and expose this, Maxi must bomb forward to get lots of crosses into the box for Cardozo. As much as Tacuara is having another great season, I still think we are not playing to his attributes well enough..with a more costant providing of service into the box, he will score even more (Di Maria was so good at providing this in the past!). I hope the likes of Gaitan and Cesar look to deliver into the box more frequently than usual tonight.
Defensively we have to also put on an improved performance tonight, because Drogba is still a handful despite his age, and Mata is a tricky customer. Again i repeat this starts with our defensive midfield, which have to be on top form tonight and play a litte deeper than usual. All season long I have thought that it hasn't been our defence as such, but rather the protection of the defence from midfield, which has been our biggest weakness. We have to tighten up tonight because a clean sheet would be massive in the tie.
I agree 100% with the probable line-up at the end of the article. 4-2-3-1 is a must tonight, to gain control of the midfield. Chelsea are quite an"old" side so could tire slightly in the latter stages. Thus Rodrigo and Nolito could cause an impact coming off the bench towards the end of the match. I am not over-confident and think they have as much of a chance to advance as we do over the 2 legs. I just hope we put in a good performance and represent the Liga well tonight. Forca SLB!!!
Forca Benfica!
Let me take this time to say i am extremely proud of Benfica making it this far, i even had a dream before champions league that Benfica made the quarter finals and then i woke up. Hopefully it'll go further than that!
Whatever happens tomorrow, I am extremely proud of my team to represent themselves and portugal in the Champions League Quarter-Finals! FORCA S.L.BENFICA!!!