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| Wednesday, 07 December 2011 21:52 |
Benfica 1-0 Otelul GalatiEagles cruise into round of sixteen Benfica sealed top spot in Champions League Group C with a low-key victory over Otelul Galati at the Luz tonight. Oscar Cardozo’s early tap-in got the home side off to the perfect start, and although what followed will not linger long in the memory, the Eagles have accomplished what they set out to do back in July.
With Luisao and Maxi Pereira ruled out due to injury and suspension respectively, Jardel kept his place alongside Ezequiel Garay, whilst Ruben Amorim was handed the captain’s armband as well as a start at right back. Oscar Cardozo returned to the side, aiming to break a six-game goal drought.  The Paraguayan managed to do so with barely seven minutes on the clock, though it owed much to two teammates and some accommodating defending from the away side. Axel Witsel did well to not only hold the play up but slip through the onrushing Nico Gaitan, and the Argentine was equally impressive, wriggling into space and chipping the ball across goal. Cardozo was unmarked at the back post and could hardly miss. Unsurprisingly, the early goal provided Benfica the perfect platform from which to control the flow of the half from then on. Both full backs were heavily involved out wide, whilst Pablo Aimar was at his influential best, roaming the pitch and exchanging swift, short passes with all and sundry. One such exchange between the number ten and Bruno Cesar teed up Cardozo to fire narrowly wide, but Otelul stormed up the other end and almost levelled the scores. However, Artur charged down Paraschiv’s initial effort, before Amorim completed the clearance almost on his own goal line after Giurgiu had delivered the rebound. The Romanian side continued to pressure, and had an appeal for a penalty ignored by referee Manuel Grafe after Paraschiv went to ground inside the box. Antal then forced another good stop out of Artur, and after a comfortable opening 25 minutes, Benfica will perhaps have been relieved to hear the half time whistle sound.  The Eagles returned to the driving seat almost immediately following the restart, and had Bruno Cesar directed his volley better, would have been 2-0 up in the opening 30 seconds. Gaitan delivered the cross for that chance, and but for a misplaced header from Cardozo, would have further increased his lead in the Champions League assist standings. Otelul continued to plug away, but were reduced to a series of speculative through balls and long-range efforts, mainly from the lively Antal. Javi Garcia responded with a fiercely driven shot from almost thirty yards (after another excellent piece of holding-up play from Witsel), but the ball skidded inches wide. It was another Spaniard – substitute Nolito – who came closest to breaking the second half deadlock with sixteen minutes remaining. Some neat inter-play between Gaitan and Cardozo saw the ball find its way to the number nine, but Grahovac somehow diverted his point-blank range strike around the post.  Ioan Filip and Nolito again produced chances in the closing minutes, but with Otelul playing merely for pride, Benfica were able to bring the curtain down on an immensely satisfying group stage campaign in almost complete comfort. The round of sixteen awaits for Jorge Jesus and co. Goals [1-0] Cardozo 7’ Benfica: Artur; Ruben Amorim, Garay, Jardel, Emerson; Javi Garcia, Witsel; Bruno Cesar (Nolito 57’), Aimar (Rodrigo 70’), Gaitan; Cardozo (Saviola 79’) Ben Shave |
Also about the big nations devaluing Europa League I think it is more the fact is that those teams are losing and get dropped from the CL have some ongoing battles in their league that wear them out so when it comes to the Europa League they just trip up on the hurdle.. potentially like yourselves devaluing the teams they play against then getting knocked out. A couple of seasons ago Liverpool was playing a full squad when they smoked Benfica in Europa League.
The fact is the Italians have sucked for the last bunch of years and if not for Mourinho would've won nothing and Portugal would be already ahead of them. This season they seem to be doing better makes me naucious really.
Until all Italian teams are out I can't enjoy the games as I know they will get the benefit of the cheat on the way to the finals.
But like I was saying I think it is more a case of teams being deflated without consistent confidence in their leagues and CL versus teams that were already in Europa and doing well topping their groups. Porto had the benefit last season of smashing lowerclass teams and building up a massive head of steam and confidence. They also smashed a very strong yellow submarine on the way to the win.
Benfica on the other hand had a decent team but had middling results and lacked the final touch to make it to the finals.. Braga did so much better in the end.
Not that I don't think they have their place.. I just think that other leagues with more money looking to catch us will dry up some of the good supply lines.. Spain is already doing so.. like I have said.. we have talented players.. that need to be given the managers trust just as if he had come from some third rate country and team.
Anyways we will have the conversation for a long time but because of the economic changes instigated by Platini who is a Frenchman with Italian heritage.. it will actually help Portugal because more of our talent will be forced to play.
The whole concept is anti-english those mainland twats don't like seeing the Brits with all their money dominating Champions League.. they don't mind the Spanish doing it but hate the brits. Funny how when the French and Italians overspent and dominated in Europe there were no rules in place..so called fair play.. or economic fair play. Italians overpaid huge with no restraint and will always take every advantage they can but when they are losing and can't compete will cheat their way into a win. That is Platini's fair play.
If you can't beat them.. cheat them.
Hey Platini if Snoria A was not so boring with such negative tactics maybe more tv networks around the globe would actually pay to watch it. The way things are going our Liga is much more exciting than the French & Italian League..
LHE, I actually agree. Highlights of a game are very different than watching the whole match.
One team clearly quit. The manager was fired due to the embarassment, and players vilified.
If you consider the fix was on, there was no dubious betting on the match. Granted, one team made out like crazy.
Whether Platini is corrupt or not, like everyone else in a powerful position the odds are good that he is.
Instead if him going away, expect him to take over FIFA when Blatter leaves. It's what he's always wanted.
Orlando Mac, as for me devalueing the Europa, I think that you are misunderstanding.
All I've said is that league cups, like the FA, Taca, Coppa, etc... are often dismissed by fans but not by teams. They still mean a lot to the teams in the country.
Europa League is still very important, if for anything the coefficient. What I was trying to say, is that mid tier clubs that just miss out on the CL, they usually dismiss Europa and concentrate on the league title/CL spot.
That fact has actually killed Italia's coefficient. It would of also killed the EPL's if not for them having at least 3 squads making the quarters, semis or even further (Chelsea vs Man United Final) regulary.
Although us fans and smaller leagues due take Europa seriously, the three top leagues didn't. Even Germany, now a top 3, dismissed Europa.
Let me add that having one team from those leagues, ala Fulham, going far does not mean the league takes it seriously. Fulham knew they had no shot at a CL spot or even a Europa spot again. They went after it when given the opportunity.
It will be much more important for Man United to win the League Title than Europa. As for some of the "Big" teams that have dropped to Europa, they will be fighting for a CL spot for next season. Once again, more important than winning Europa.
So no I don't dismiss Europa at all. But the fact is that the big boys do. If City, Man United or Valencia go on to win Europa its because their youngsters got them into the semis if not final. Granted City is loaded, so not much drop off, but league titles and CL spot for next season will be priority 1 & 2 before Europa.
Porto is pretty much assured a CL spot, so like Benfica last season, they can make a run at it.
It goes to show how remarkable Braga was last season. But you can say that it ultimately cost them 3rd place in the league.
I wonder with 3 CL spots available for next season, will Braga care more about that instead of Europa? Should Sporting? I say yes.
Now no one is going to deny that the Champions League is the premiere tournament in club football but to say that there are only 16 great teams in Europe.. and value a tournament that barely gets top ten in their respective leagues bar the FA Cup which gets respectable squads at the top. Is ridiculous.
So what everyone is saying in their Taca/FA argument is that teams 17 through 50 in Europe are worthless but teams ranked less in UEFA are worth more if you are fighting for the Porta-Pottie Cup.
Your bias shines through.. any statement that is that absurd, only devalues your ULTRA fan view.
So Porto last year who in my estimation was a Final 4 Champions League Team (of course wouldn't beat Barca but everyone else was in for a beating if they could not beat the offence of Porto)..
This year they started in Europa because they had a rare blemish in their 20 year history were worthless in smashing all comers.. including my own team who had qualified to the CL.. but choked.. and ended up having a better season because of the Europa League.
The thing I hate about the UEFA club listings is that it favours major teams.. Euro co-efficients do not help the lower leagues such as ours.
Why do you think Plantini waits two years.. for the co-efficient to take affect.. this year should've saw 2 direct CL spots and one playoff.. Yet Benfica had to playoff to qualify for the CL against increasingly harder teams.
See the reasoning behind the rules is that a developing team or country with lots of talent can be stripped whole in two seasons so the chance of their qualification in two seasons is nil. Sure our Liga does a great job.. but say APOEL went on a run.. went to the Final of CL losing but ended up 4th in Cyprus this season they wouldn't even qualify for Europa next year as CL Finalists.. how could they keep that squad of better Portuguese together?
They would be raided.. not to mention none of those players would play in a siginificant game.
Never forget that money wise our Liga is in the Greek League area.. we have been over achieving.. we do not have the money to compete with those higher leagues. Any failure from our overachieving will cripple most teams budgets.
If we buy too many southern expensive turds and the top 4 collectively have two bad seasons in the Europa League we would drop to the Greek League level and never be able to recover.
This is reality..
Lose 20 years in a row in the Taca de Turd.. = NOTHING
Even in our liga which is one of the best.. our top teams can't hold squads together for two seasons.. look at Porto, Benfica, Sporting.. and Braga.. if we do not have a fresh supply of super achievers we are done for. It is a more uphill battle than most would think.
Snoria A spends vast amount of fortunes to maintain their level above our poor Liga.. and they can barely do so. I believe with PDC, LFV, the other two presidents.. we will see a day when the Liga surpasses Snoria A.
But don't mistake this recent dominance our success above other Leagues will result in copy cats.. and scopping Southern turds and shining them will become easier for the Italians & French with more money.. so guys like NJ and Co.. that bank all their eggs in foreign talent.. because they perceive some value in them.. will be tooled soon.
The way forward is through an abundant crop of freshly grown talent that needs to improve under heat.. the same recipe is true for elite chefs.. fresh local meats and produce, when thrown in a skillet taste better to everyone because it is authentic.
Having some of the best players in the world for the last 20 years.. does not deflate your Liga values as some might suggest..
A Portuguese Liga prodigy is actually worth more than a Spanish Liga reject on the real market.. unless your name is JJ... or any other parrot that follows his mantra of only playing Portuguese players that are playing poorly, to show their genius.. not to mention inventing situations to justify their non-inclusions when clearly they deserve a chance.
How can any one else explain how Miguel Vitor who has had some starts out of position.. a place he clearly is not effective.. then get forced into his natural postion outperforms.. settles a squad that was poor in defence.. then gets shuffled for a CB that has barely ever got to play and is clearly inferior.
I hope when he leaves the office, Platini and his fake fight against corruption take some vacation for indefinitely time in Qatar.
http://bit.ly/uzs42U
I'll take mine later to the Real - Barça :)
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Going back again, I don't found CL this season a "mickey mouse" cup just because Man U and Porto are out and Benfica, Apoel first in their groups. CL is always CL and both should be congratulated and respected for what they've done so far.
On other hand, I can't consider EL "mickey mouse cup" neither. It's not competitive and attractive as CL but it is always an honor to win it. Last year we had Juventus, Liverpool, Napoli, Villarreal, Seville on it, this year we have Man U, Man City, Ajax, one competitive Lazio and Tottenham... I hope Porto can defend well his title.
Most might not care, but its important that Benfica avoids Lyon or Marseille because that scumbag Platini's french teams are garbage, he needs to pay off the officials.
So according to jojo thankfully the big guns are out of CL so Benfica should have an easy time against little clubs like Barca, Chelsea, Milan, Real and Bayren. Look at who qualified before making a stupid statement.
Don't hate people, at least one Portuguese team made it in the CL.Forca Portugal, Forca Benfica!!!!!!!
I also agree with you Jon/usa on a few issues: I also think left-back is a concern for us. Emerson has been improving, but I don't think he's good enough to be the undisputed first choice left back, and we need another solid left-back to compete with him for the position. I also like the idea of Ansaldi, who has already made a public "come and get me" statement to Benfica. He can also play right-back, so could be cover for Maxi too...seems like the perfect player for us to buy! I also agree that until Enzo Perez recovers from injury, Nolito should be given more playing time, as we really need 2 WINGERS in the 4-2-3-1 system...Cesar as you correctly state is a central-midfielder!!!
Overall we played bad but we topped the group i wonder where all the haters are LOFL
As I mentioned in the previous article, Bruno Cesar does not belong on the wings. When he drifted in from the right today and played as a midfielder, he was able to show off his passing range. I too hope Enzo Perez can be an important player when fit. However, Nolito needs to be starting as the left winger, especially in league games. His form only started to drop when he was benched by JJ.
I have never been a fan of Emerson and I still think that he is a weak link, but in recent matches, he has been reasonably solid. I think it may be a Fabio Coentrao hangover, but I would like to see a little more from Emerson offensively. He works hard, but he's slow and offers very little offensively. I would prefer Taiwo or Ansaldi over him.
Without a doubt, we have one of the top 10 clubs in Europe and the only clubs I would fear at the moment are Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich. We could get Milan in the round of 16, but they are no where near Barca or Madrid.
Regardless of the outcome at the end the good news is Benfica has gone through and made millions proud never mind put millions in their pockets. They have a decent team to compete and I'm sure they will do their best against whoever they get. If they play with the same heart and determination that they did with ManU I'm sure they can go far.
Franfly I really don't care how lackluster a performance it might have been, as long as we won.
Group Winner Baby!!!
We definately missed on more than a few opportunities. We really need to close teams out, going forward.
For most of the season, we have come out soft in the second half of games. And that's even when we managed to score a late winner. We need to finish stronger, especially since we have the horses to do so.
Let me add, Porto fans now would of taken a lackluster performance as long as they went through.
A touch in regards to Man United.
As much as this shocked me, it will shock the Glazers even more. I'm sure all budgets are based on the club reaching the quarters at the very least. It's not just the tourney and tv revenue that's lost, but all the additional revenue form exposure, merchandise, sponsors, etc...
This will hurt them.
I also feel that they will now concentrate on the EPL Title, so Europa will fall by the way side. SAF will not burn out veterans in Europa.
Looking at the teams we may face, there's no reason to not be in the q-finals at the very least. JJ is right in saying we have a fair shot at fighting for the title and once you get the quarter/semi-finals, anything can happen.
I think I would like to face Marseille (one of the harder options) but we've had some great matches against them in the past and beating them would help Portugal keep France from catching up on our standings. With 2 French teams in the knockout stage we can't have them both going far.
This is a good chance for us and with Artur maybe we could pull a few surprises.
It was important to get the 3 points needed to win the group against a team that tries to frustrate it's opponents with every man sitting back. But i have to say it was another below-par from SLB yet again, the last month has not produced great performances, and i was hoping for a much better one tonight. The second half in particular was not great, and the team was taking a risk being content with 1-0...as Basel were winning against Man United, an Otelul equalizer would've put us second in the group. Thankfully the Romanians never looked like scoring.
I think an area where we are not looking very strong at the moment is on the flanks...we lack a bit of power and pace in the wide areas, and good service to Cardozo from wide positions. Nolito, after a spectacular start to the season, hasn't been turning it on much lately. I'm hoping Enzo Perez can give us another element from the flanks when he recovers from injury. I agree with some of these posts that Cesar is not a natural wide player...he's best as an alternative to Aimar at number 10 in the centre. Once Perez is available for selection, I would like to see us try out him on one flank and Gaitan on the other. Cardozo is the kind of forward that needs good service, particularly from wide areas, like he was getting from Di Maria 2 seasons back, but hasn't really been getting this season.
Still...a great feeling to win the group and (in theory) get an easier draw for the round of 16. I don't mind any of those runners-up as long as it isn't AC Milan (our historical nemesis!). Shock result for Man United crashing out, and Basel proved yet again that they are not to be under-estimated. JJ has done great to get us through this group unbeaten, hats off to him and to the team. Now we can all look forward to the draw next week to see who we get....FORCA SLB!!!!
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on the game tonight...What I saw was a professional and commited performance and we almost made it 2.0 if Rodrigo converted that simple chance at the end. All in all I'm vey happy tonight and I will sleep well until they make draw for the last 16 to see who will play.
It's shame a Porto didn't join us but I am hopeful they will come back stronger next year.