The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Benfica

  • Madrid set for Benfica rematch in UCL knockout playoffs

    Madrid set for Benfica rematch in UCL knockout playoffs

    Real Madrid, who lost to Benfica on Wednesday, will play the Portuguese club again in next month’s Champions League knockout playoffs, while holders Paris St Germain will face fellow Ligue 1 side Monaco after the draw took place in Nyon yesterday.

    Teams ranked ninth to 24th in the league phase of the Champions League were drawn against each other in two-legged ties to be played between February 17-25. The winners join the top-eight teams from the league phase in the round of 16.

    Benfica keeper Anatoliy Trubin scored in the 98th  minute to wrap up a 4-2 win over Real in their final league-phase clash that left the LaLiga side ninth in the table, a point below eighth-placed Manchester City.

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    French champions PSG finished 11th  after failing to win any of their last three league-phase matches, while Monaco were 21st.

    Newcastle United will play Azeri side Qarabag, while Atletico Madrid, who finished three points below the top eight, will face Club Brugge. Borussia Dortmund have been pitted against Atalanta after both teams missed out on a top-eight finish due to back-to-back losses.

    Bayer Leverkusen, the other German side in the playoffs, will face Olympiacos again after losing to the Greek champions earlier this month.

    Serie A leaders Inter Milan will take on Norwegian team Bodo/Glimt and Juventus will play Turkish side Galatasaray.

  • Done Deal! Tyronne Ebuehi Joins Benfica till 2023

    Super Eagles and Nigeria international right-back Tyronne Ebuehi has joined Benfica.

    The 22-year Eagles star was officially announced as the Portuguese new signee on Saturday.

    The Portuguese club made the announcement after completing on a free transfer from Dutch side ADO Den Haag, stating that Ebuehi signed a 5-year contract.

    Benfica will be competing in next season’s UEFA Champions League, after finishing second in the league and the Netherlands born Nigerian is expected to be in action for his new club.

    Ebuehi has been named in Gernot Rohr’s 30-man provisional list for the 2018 World Cup and may possibly be in action for Nigeria on May 28, when the Super Eagles battle DR. Congo in Port Harcourt in a pre-World Cup friendly.

    The strong-man defender is expected to make the final cut for in Russia, confirming his rising profile in the last 18 months if he impresses Coach Gernot Rohr after England friendly on June 2.

    Recall that Ebuehi made his debut for the national team 2017 in a 4-2 friendly against Argentina in November.

  • CSKA Moscow earn first home win, end Benfica’s hope

    CSKA Moscow earn first home win, end Benfica’s hope

    CSKA Moscow earned their first home win of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) campaign with a 2-0 victory over Benfica of Portugal on Wednesday.

    The victory strengthened their push to reach the knockout stages while shattering the Portuguese side’s chances.

    Georgi Schennikov put CSKA ahead after 13 minutes with a left-footed finish, having been assisted by Bibras Natcho’s short through ball that shredded Benfica’s backline.

    The visitors’ troubles worsened after the interval as defender Jardel then clumsily deflected a cross by CSKA’s Vitinho into the back of his own net after 56 minutes.

    CSKA’s win puts them into second place in Group A on nine points behind leaders Manchester United, who take on Basel later on Wednesday.

    Yet, the result ensured that former European champions Benfica, still without a point, are now certain to finish last.

    NAN

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  • Portuguese cup: Match ball delivered by drone

    Portuguese cup: Match ball delivered by drone

     

    The Portuguese Cup final kicked off in unique fashion on Sunday after an official flew in by drone to deliver the match ball to the referee.

    Taking off at the race track surrounding the Estadio Nacional, the official brought a touch of modernism to Portugal’s oldest cup competition by soaring through the skies on the remote-controlled drone.

    He showed expert poise to stay balanced on the skateboard-shaped device as he flew over to around the halfway line all while clutching on to the match ball.

    And after around 20 seconds spent airborne he was brought down gently before handing the ball to the referee – who looked thoroughly impressed with it all.

    The game itself saw Benfica beat Vitoria Guimaraes 2-1 to claim their 26th Portuguese Cup win.

    Raul Jimenez and Eduardo Salvio did the damage for the Lisbon giants early in the second half with Bongani Zungu’s goal for Vitoria 12 minutes from time proving nothing more than a consolation.

    The result means Benfica have completed the 11th league and cup double in the club’s history after they clinched the Primeira Liga six points ahead of runners-up Porto.

    Benfica goalkeeper Ederson featured between the sticks for Rui Vitoria’s side in what he admitted could be his last game for the club.

    The 23-year-old is the subject of interest from Manchester City after Pep Guardiola made the signing of a new goalkeeper a priority at the Etihad.

  • Perez not leaving Benfica

    Benfica midfielder Enzo Perez, reportedly a transfer target for Manchester United, has quashed reports of a move away from Portugal.

    The Argentina international has been linked with a move to Old Trafford after impressing for the Primeira Liga champions last season.

    His club form caught the eye of Alejandro Sabella and earned him a place at the World Cup, where he made three appearances, including a start in the final that Argentina eventually lost 1-0 to Germany.

    Strengthening the midfield appears to be a top priority for Louis van Gaal, with the likes of Kevin Strootman, Arturo Vidal, Juan Cuadrado and Perez among the players reportedly interesting the new United boss.

    Yet Perez, who has also been the subject of apparent interest from Valencia, is happy plying his trade in Portugal.

    “I am very calm, comfortable and happy at Benfica,” he told O Jogo. “On Monday, I travel to Portugal and if the opportunity arises to leave, it must be a mutual decision.

    “I personally am not looking to leave.”

    Perez is also hoping international team-mate Sergio Romero moves to Estadio da Luz after his loan spell with Monaco came to an end.

    The goalkeeper returned to parent club Sampdoria, but is believed to be close to completing a switch to the Portuguese capital.

    “During the World Cup I told him about the club,” Perez added. “He is a great person and a better professional.

    “In addition, Benfica needs people with experience in the squad.”

  • Bela Guttmann: The man who ‘cursed’ Benfica

    Bela Guttmann: The man who ‘cursed’ Benfica

    Bela Guttmann is an Hungarian coach who led Portuguese giants Benfica to back-to-back European Cup triumph in the early 60s.

    He also coached AC Milan, Sao Paulo FC, FC Porto and C.A. Penarol in a glittering career. But his greatest success came with Benfica when he guided the team to successive European Cup victories in 1961 and in 1962.

    Together with Márton Bukovi and Gusztáv Sebes, the Budapest-born Guttmann formed a triumvirate of radical Hungarian coaches who pioneered the 4–2–4 formation and he is also credited with mentoring the Portuguese legend, Eusébio, who died early this year.

    He also earned a reputation for his self-confidence and his brash style, leading to comparisons with Chelsea manager José Mourinho.

    Throughout his career he was never far from controversy. The widely travelled Guttmann rarely stayed at a club longer than two seasons and was quoted as saying a “third season is fatal.”

    The Hungarian was sacked at AC Milan while the team was top of Serie A and he walked out on Benfica after the club management refused a request for a pay rise, purportedly leaving the club with a curse as he left.

    Before left the Lisbon giants, Guttman declared that Benfica would never win another European competition without him at the helm. 52 years on, that “curse” still haunts the team.

    On Wednesday night, the 33-time Portuguese champions lost in the Europa League final to Spanish side Sevilla 4-2 on penalties. The match played in Turin was scoreless for 120 minutes before the two sides were separated by penalty lottery.

    Benfica was also defeated in last year’s Europa League final by Chelsea.

    Since that triumphant night under Guttmann in 1962, Benfica had tasted seven European cup finals’ defeats, prior to Wednesday’s reverse in Turin.

    Benfica’s European finals’ defeats:

    1963: vs AC Milan (1-2) – European Cup

    1965: vs Inter Milan (0-1) – European Cup

    1968: vs Manchester United (1-4) –European Cup

    1983: vs Anderlecht (3-4 on aggregate) – UEFA Cup

    1988: vs PSV Eindhoven (5-6 penalty shootouts) – European Cup

    1990: vs AC Milan (0-1) – European Cup

    2013: vs Chelsea (1-2) – Europa League

    2014: vs Sevilla (2-4 penalty shootouts) – Europa League

    Will Guttmann’s curse continue to haunt the club or it is just a brief lean spell in “o Glorioso” (the Glorious One)’s European campaign? Time will definitely tell.

     

  • EUROPA LEAGUE WIN:I’m proud to beat Benfica

    EUROPA LEAGUE WIN:I’m proud to beat Benfica

    • Eagles captain agrees 2nd leg will be tough

    Super Eagles captain and Fenerbahce defender Joseph Yobo is delighted with Fenerbahce’s 1-0 home victory over Benfica in the first leg of the Europa League Semi Final on Thursday.

    Speaking to the official website of UEFA, the central defender said: ”Benfica are a very good team – I give them a lot of credit – but today we deserved to win.

    ”Everybody can miss a penalty like we did tonight, but afterwards we showed character, and did not allow ourselves to be discouraged. On the contrary, we fought really hard to get victory.

    ”Tonight, they lost for the first time after not being defeated for 38 games consecutively. That is an amazing achievement, and it shows just how good they are.

    ”But we showed the will to win, and this is just what happened tonight. The next game will be very, very tough. We cannot and will not underestimate them.”

    In addition, Yobo thanked the fans for their support during the game at Sükrü Saracoglu Stadium, Istanbul.

    ”Everybody knows the importance of not conceding a goal at home in this sort of competition. We had the chances to score more, but still the result is something to be proud of,” Joseph Yobo told uefa..com.

    In his reaction, however, Benfica boss Jorge Jesus warned Yobo and his teammates to prepare for a tough challenge in the second leg of the Europa league come in Lisbon

    Coach Jesus maintained that his side are quite capable of turning the table at home, adding that it would be a different ball game when the visitors come calling.

    “Everything will be different in Lisbon,” Jorge said.

    The Portuguese were nowhere near their best in Istanbul and had already seen their hosts hit the woodwork three times before Egemen Korkmaz secured a 1-0 victory with 18 minutes to go.

    Jorge had no complaints about the final result but was keen to stress that fatigue had been a major factor in his side’s strangely subdued showing.

    “We had a very tiring match against Sporting Lisbon at the weekend and we did not arrive in Turkey completely ready,” he said.

    “In Lisbon, everything will be different. We still have another game so we remain hopeful of going through,” he enthused

     

  • Benfica goes clear in Portugal

    Benfica opened up a three-point lead at the top of the Portuguese Liga table after a 3-0 win at Gil Vicente.

    Guimaraes lifts to fourth in Portugal

    The Lisbon club was out of sight by half-time as goals from Lima (2′), Luisinho (27′) and Andre Gomes (45′) set it on its way.

    The win was soured only by the 70th-minute dismissal of Argentinian midfielder Enzo Perez.

    The win means Benfica will sit alone at the top for at least 24 hours with champion Porto at Estoril in Sunday’s late game.

    Two late goals helped Pacos Ferreira up to fifth with a 2-0 win at Beira Mar.

    Vitor broke the deadlock on 81 minutes before substitute Arturo Alvarez got the clincher with three minutes left.

    Pedro Rui Duarte netted two penalties to give Olhanense a 2-2 draw at home to Moreirense.

    Moreirense had twice gone ahead through Pablo Olivera (35′) and Nabil Ghilas (57′) but was pegged back by Rui Duarte spot-kicks on each occasion as he first converted on 40 minutes before keeping his cool three minutes from time.

  • Rodrigo grateful for Benfica chance

    Rodrigo grateful for Benfica chance

    Spanish starlet Rodrigo has heaped praise on Benfica for presenting him with the chance to prove his worth in professional football.

    The 21-year-old switched from La Liga side Real Madrid for six million euros in 2010.

    Real had the option to buy back the Brazilian-born forward, but both clubs agreed to cancel that clause following Fabio Coentrao’s transfer to the Bernabeu, an unwitting circumstance Rodrigo is grateful for.

    “Last year I did pretty well, and also felt good,” he told AS.

    “All the time, I feel more important to Benfica. They have allowed me to play at the top level, and I will be forever grateful for that.

    “I have renewed this summer because it is the perfect club to move forward with. I appreciate the time I spent at Real Madrid, and it was important in my career too, but I am dedicated to my job and now focus on Benfica.”

    Rodrigo’s exploits at Under-21 international level have led to some calling for Spain coach Vicente del Bosque to induct him into the senior squad leading up to the 2014 World Cup, although La Roja have recently deployed formations without a designated striker.

    “There are good quality centre-forwards in the junior as well as senior set-up. It is true the Euros were won without any specific position for strikers, but they are still just as potent,” he said.

    “Besides me, there is (Getafe’s) Alvaro Vazquez and (Real Madrid’s) Alvaro Morata in the Under-21 team, who also have a lot of potential.”