2023-10-24 00:15:04
Reaching the third round without any points gained in the group stage of the Champions League is a very different face to the one that Benfica had been showing, but the eagle knows that it still depends only on itself if it wants to once again reach the round of 16. Final. For this to happen, it will be important, or even mandatory, to beat Real Sociedad this Tuesday.
At the Estádio da Luz, where this campaign began with a blanket of errors and a defeat against Red Bull Salzburg (0-2), before stumbling again in Milan (1-0), Roger Schmidt tries to reverse his team’s European course. Benfica’s ambition in this competition, if not already evident in recent campaigns and approach to the market, has been constantly highlighted by the coach.
The good news arrived on the eve of the game, with confirmation that the injured trio – Di María, Kokçu and Bah – participated in this Monday’s training session. If they are ready to do so, any of them will be an important addition to the eleven, due to their quality Champions of the first two, or, in the case of the Danish full-back, for allowing Aursnes to play in a position where he can be better utilized.
The bad news is the quality of the opponent. Real Sociedad, although not very experienced in this last step of European football, occupies it with justice and it is also no coincidence that they lead the group, after a draw (1-1) with Inter and a victory in Austria (0-2).
Benfica entered the competition with two defeats @Kapta+
The home factor may indicate some favoritism, but only one bom Benfica will be able to take the three points from the men from San Sebastián. A sociedad The offensive of Take Kubo and Brais Méndez, both in great shape and led by Oyarzabal, can do damage, and the Alguacil team maintains solidity in the remaining departments thanks to names like Merino, Zubimendi and Le Normand.
Iberian duel debut
Benfica and Real Sociedad have never faced each other before! Two centuries-old clubs that saved their first official clash for a big stage, such as the Champions League.
It will be the Reds’ 28th meeting with Spanish opposition, against whom they have a record of seven victories, five of them in the Champions League. Already the blue and white They only played against the Portuguese six times, but they won half of those duels. They started with a defeat in Lisbon (1-0), 40 years ago, but they took revenge on Sporting two weeks later with a 2-0 which was worth a ticket to the semi-finals of this competition (then European Cup) in his debut year. The most recent meeting was in 1992, when a triumph for 2-0 did not prevent the Basques from being eliminated from the UEFA Cup by Vitória SC, with the current coach (plus Oceano and Carlos Xavier) in the eleven. He was 3-0 for Guimarães, Real Sociedad’s last official visit to Portugal.
Champions League 2023/24 Back to the present day, Benfica faces some lack of consistency in the eleven and competitive level, due to factors such as the international break, injuries, and a Portuguese Cup duel against a team from lower levels (1-4 to the Lusitânia) as the most recent test. The visitors, in turn, are coming off a victory over Mallorca (1-0) in La Liga and this season they only lost on visits to Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid.
This is the challenge for the Portuguese champion. More than thinking about winning and gaining new life in the fight for the round of 16, Schmidt will have to choose the right pieces and find a way to overcome an opponent who, at the moment, is experiencing greater stability.
#robbery #life #zerozero.pt