Liga Sagres: SL Benfica 0-0 Clube Desportivo Nacional

SL Benfica said goodbye to Uefa CUP with a home defeat.

In the championship, nothing is won yet, although, it feels extremely good to achieve Xmas being the first, of the Portuguese League.

The game against the Madeira’s island team CD Nacional, hasn’t brought anything new. The other opponent teams had lost points and probably because of that SLB decided to share Xmas points as well.

SL Benfica needs a man of the match, a player who decides how the team must attack. When players like, Carlos Martins and Pablo Aimar, aren’t playing the efforts are bigger and the practical results aren’t the same. Some players try to assume that same position, during the game, but they can’t forget their main tasks.

To talk about the goal scored, about the referee work and his arguments, is useless and we would be giving importance to something that really doesn’t deserve it.

Let’s see if the New Year can bring us all, better referees, more spectator, less violence and genuine football.

Goodbye Portuguese Cup

SL Benfica lost on penalties shots (5-4) the eliminatory against Leixões Sport Club.

The Matosinhos team is making a season above all expectations and so everyone knew it wouldn’t be an easy game.

The Saturday night game, was well controlled by Benfica, in a different game from the other one, played some weeks ago for the League, where the result was also a draw, this time a null after the 120’.

Vitor Oliveira and José Mota are doing a good job and the home team is very consistent and well organized and evitated very well the shots from SLB. Although that doesn’t mean that we couldn’t have done better ….

In some games there are goals scored that people would not believe in, but one thing is for sure, if the Benfica players don’t try to shot the nets, they will not score for sure.

Liga Sagres: Club Sport Marítimo 0-6 SL Benfica

Spectacular game and result on the Maritimo’s stadium, “Barreiros”.

SL Benfica made an historical performance on the beautiful island of Madeira. The local Club had few chances to brake down this Benfica, however the red card (18’) shown to the Maritimo’s goalkeeper helped a lot.

Goals scored: Reyes 20’ (Penalty shot); Suazo 42' and 79'; Luisão 66'; Nuno Gomes 86' and 92'.

The importance of this result must be seen not only by the many goals scored, but principally by the vital victory on this always difficult pitch.

Every games are difficult to Benfica, but it will depend on our players and managers to do all they can to transform it. The team needed this result to gain back important self-esteem.

The team spirit must be on high levels, to allow the players, to work together, in all places of the football field, helping each other on every ball dispute and to achieve solid victories, giving them the needed tranquillity to achieve the goals proposed.

Óscar David Suazo Velasquez (05/11/1979)

The Honduran forward David Suazo was born in San Pedro Sula in 1979.

Suazo played his first games at the Club Olimpia reserves, after that period he experienced the Bankers League. Some good exhibitions and connections opened the door to 1999 to represent the Honduran National Team in the Nigerian under 20 Championship. The player was rapidly contracted by Club Olimpia Deportivo. The professionally contract for the Club’s Capital wasn’t long, because an Italian team, Cagliari Cálcio decided to sign a contract with him. So, after ten games played and 5 goals scored for the Honduran team, he flies to Italy. Many games played in Serie A and B until FC Internazionale contracted him.

Suazo is an extraordinary player, very good physically allowing amazing runs between the opponent defenses. David shots easily, with both feet, to the nets and makes fantastic passes to other companions score. His good vision of the game allows him, to take fast decisions and the creation of new spaces on the “enemy lines”.

Before the Internazionale Football Club (FC Internazionale Milano – Italy) loan to SL Benfica, Suazo represented the following clubs: Club Olimpia Deportivo from 1996 till 1999 and Cagliari Cálcio from season 1999/00 until 2006/07.

To the press Nicolas Suazo, the player’s father told:

“I am very proud of my son. I couldn’t watch the game but I already know he made a great exhibition. To all the fans I ask them to have faith in what Suazo can do for the Benfica’s team.”

“Suazo is enjoying very much being in Portugal. He says that everybody treats him very well and that he likes the place where he lives and the food also.”

“I do believe Benfica will keep the first place and be at the end the Portuguese Champion.”


Stability is required to gain success. Success for the team and that’s, what we also wish for, the Benfica TV channel, that is starting today.

Graecum est, non legitur (Greek to me)

The result of the Uefa Cup game, Olympiacos 5 – 1 Benfica, was a complete desolation for the reds and Greek to me.

The Greek’s first half was fantastic and the final result represented well how terrible it was. The game seemed like a nightmare and the Benfica players and also the Coach took to much time to realize what was going on.

There are not many words to say about this game, but there are many things for sure to learn and correct.

Everybody knows how difficult games are in Greece but, this numbers defeat, represent a horrible way of being in the international competitions.

Greece is very beautiful and a marvellous Greek midfielder can be seen at SLB, his name Katsouranis. Katso played already one hundred games, with the Benfica’s red shirt.

On Monday, the night was cold, Katsouranis was the Captain and the game was going well for SLB against Vitória Futebol Clube (Vitória de Setúbal). Several chances were created but unfortunately failed.

Dauto Faquirá, Vitória de Setúbal coach had the lesson well studied and his team scored firstly. The final of the first half came with the “Sadinos” winning.

On the second part of the game, the goal arrived soon, scored by the Greek Katsouranis. SL Benfica was controlling the game and the second goal appeared naturally scored by Suazo.

The game was ending, Benfica could achieve the top of the Portuguese League, but on the 90Th minute Vitória scored again and the victory ran away.

Concentration is needed and in few games everything done until now can easily be thrown out.

Konstantinos Katsouranis (21/06/1979)

Katsouranis was born in Patras, at 215 Km distance from Athenas Greece in 1979. Here in Patras Katso started playing in Panachaiki Gymnastiki Enosi when he was seventeen. In 2002 AEK Athens (Athlitiki Enosis Konstantinoupoleos) President convinced the midfielder to sign for the Club. The good performance of the Greek player between 2002 and 2006 made him dream with European Clubs and Benfica emerged by that time.

Lately, the he hasn’t scored many goals. Usually he scores goals responding with his head to balls coming from corner kicks.

Katso is without any doubt one great quality player. The excellent midfielder needs all encouragement in this phase of his career to keep high skills and the best performances.

With a player like Katsouranis motivated Benfica can more easily achieve the objectives proposed.

Tonight SL Benfica will play in Greece, in a very difficult visit to Olympiacos C.F.P..

Hellenic Republic known as Greece is a south-eastern Europe country that belongs to European Union and to NATO. Greece lies at the juncture of Europe, Asia and Africa. Athens is the capital and not very far is the Piraeus, a Greek port, where Olympiacos C.F.P. a largest multi-athletic organization, was founded in 1925.

At the stadium Georgios Karaiskakis, Luisão and Aimar will not be able to give their contribution, to the team, as some other players, but like Nuno Gomes says, Benfica as other solutions.

Nuno Gomes said to the Press:
“A good result for us will be the victory. We will face a hard ambient in the stadium. The Greek fans are well known, but they won’t play.”

Goup B - Previous Uefa Cup games:
Hertha BSC Berlin 1-1 SL BenficaGalatasaray AŞ 1-0 Olympiacos CFP
FC Metalist Kharkiv 0-0 Hertha BSC Berlin
SL Benfica 0-2 Galatasaray AŞ
Sport Lisboa e Benfica

Goalkeepers: Quim, Moretto and Moreira;

Defenders: Maxi Pereira, Sidnei, David Luiz, Jorge Ribeiro and Miguel Vítor;

Midfileders: Binya, Carlos Martins, Katsouranis, Balboa, Felipe Bastos, Reyes, Ruben Amorim, Urreta and Yebda;

Forwards: Suazo, Nuno Gomes and Cardozo;

Coach: Quique Flores.

Referee

Stéphane Lannoy (FRA)

Assistant referee

Frédéric Cano (FRA) Christoph Capelli (FRA)

Liga Sagres: Associação Académica de Coimbra 0-2 SL Benfica

Benfica won at the “students” home.
To remember the last game the club Associação Académica de Coimbra lost at home, we need to go back almost a year, and that defeat was precisely against SLB. So the team knew that it wouldn’t be an easy game, although Benfica has no defeats here in the last 35 years. Some alterations were made in the team and David Luiz appeared at the left side of the defense, while Binya and Ruben occupied the midfield. Also Cardozo initiated the game.

The game was being difficult and Benfica, couldn’t find someone more creative to resolve it. The “students” could have scored, but they didn’t and a bit later Ruben Amorim after a tremendous pass from Nuno Gomes scored. Quique spoke, about Ruben before this game and the good things he told had a positive effect on the player.

At the beginning of the second half the Benfica scored the second goal, on a penalty kick converted by Cardozo. Reyes was one of the best in the field and Suazo jumped from the bench and almost scored another goal for the team.


Ruben Filipe Marques Amorim (27/01/1985)

Ruben Amorim was born in Lisbon in the year of 1985. Very young Ruben gained interest for sports and soon started playing roller hockey on quad skates. He’s brother played for Benfica and decided to bring him along and Ruben’s vocation was found.

Ruben started playing for the Glorious Sport Lisboa e Benfica, and soon showed good qualities. After that experience, he went to play for Clube Atlético e Cultural and for Ginásio Clube de Corroios (number 7) also. Before returning to Benfica, he made a splendid work at Clube de Futebol «Os Belenenses». Fourteen proposals were received, to sign in with Clubs, from Germany, Italy, Spain and England but Ruben always knew which shirt he wanted to dress.

Ruben plays in the midfield with the number 15 on his shirt and it is here where he likes to play. The control of the opponents attack is his first job and he makes all he can to avoid it. Ruben makes very good transitions movements with or without the ball. The team becomes more consistent and confident with him on the field. He is a smart players that very easily can read the game and decide what to do.

Ruben Amorim is a Sport Lisboa e Benfica member. The membership number 18.301 was asquired when he was born. Ruben is the typical example of someone, who while opening his eyes for the first times was already “Benfiquista”.

Liga Sagres: SL Benfica 1–0 Clube de Futebol Estrela da Amadora

Last Sunday our team gathered more 3 important points. The victory against Clube de Futebol Estrela da Amadora was very important and also difficult because of the terrible financial problems E. Amadora is facing. The players from E. Amadora as any other professionals deserve to receive their money at the end of each month as agreed.


Claque No Name Boys (NN)

The word CLAQUE comes from the french and means clapping. The men from Politic or from showbizz always knew along the centuries how important was to receive applauds.

Many years ago, the claques become so important that people were hired to make part of it. A french poet, Jean Daurat decided to apply this system to one of his Teather plays. Daurat bought several ticket one night and gave them to the people who promissed to applaud, among the audience.

The positive results attracted more audience, better critics and more financial gains and off course importance. It become so important that the Claques started to be more organized. The final result was more or less similar to this: a manager of the show could send orders to the leader of the claque and the restant participants would start to applaude.

Nowadays, the group of supporters from a certain Club are designated Claques. The Claques in Portugal have good and bad things and NN are no exception.

I rather prefer to correct what is not as we wish and to see what’s good in a Claque.

The supporters belonging to the Claque are the one’s who normally attend to the entrainements, other modalities and to almost every football games of the team. Also the away games are here included. These supporters sing for the team and applaud the players like no one else. The members of NN like any other great Benfica’s fan really do not care if it rains or if it is cold, they only want to see the team play. Some words of a song express that feeling: “ if Benfica looses I do not want to have dinner…”

The Claques will never terminate and Sport Lisboa e Benfica with good organization should have much more things to gain than to loose in this process.

Can we Believe? Yes we Can!

Benfica lost an important game last thurday. The turkish Club left our Stadium with a brilliant victory, they studied well the way Benfica plays and prepared evan better. A great perfomance of the Galatasaray AS miedfielders allowed them the control of the game. The final result was 0-2 defeat and there was nothing more our team could do, at least in that specific game. That’s probably why the Benfica supporters among the 46 676 spectators accepted so well the final result.

To the question: Can we believe?
The answer is obvious: Yes we can!

The players are giving their best, altough we all feel they can do better. The couch Quique Flores fortunately loves football and probably studies the games until exhaustion. As good coach he is, he knows exactly the best tactic to use, with the players he has at his service in the group. The team is improving the habitual tactic and that allows experiences of another players and of other field positions. Against Desportivo das Aves, last monday in our Stadium, for the Millenium Cup, some things changed and that permited an important victory (3-0).

Aimar made other brilliant pass, Yebda scored an amazing goal and David Luiz is back.

David Luiz Moreira Marinho (22/04/1987)

David was born in São Paulo, Brazil. At the age of sixteen he was playing for the Brazilian football team, Esporte Clube Vitória. His good physical condition and his ability to play the ball in the air helped him to achieve his goals.

In 2007 David Luiz joined SL Benfica initially for loan but a few months later he was already signing a contract with the “Eagles”.

http://davidluiz-23.blogspot.com/

Tonight SL Benfica will play against Galatasaray AŞ, in the first visit from the Turkish team to Portugal.

The Benfica supporters will probably be able to see Fernando Meira playing once again in the “Estádio da Luz”. Meira is a brilliant player and his mates recognize him has a leader. His voice of command, the good positions he occupies in the field, the sense of responsibility for doing what the coach wants are positive aspects for the teams where he plays football.

Fernando José da Silva Freitas Meira (1978-06-05)

Meira was born in June 5th 1978, in Guimarães. In the city Club he started playing professionally. After the first season 1998-99, he went to play in FC Felgueiras where he improved and soon returned to Vitória FC. In the year 2000 SL Benfica signed with F. Meira and here he stayed playing almost 50 league matches. The good exhibitions alerted foreign attentions and VFB Stuttgart contracted him in 2002. Know he his at Michael Skibbe German coach orders and we all Benfica fans desire him and his team the best of the lucks on the Uefa Cup, but not for tonight, because in the today’s game we only expect that the victory smiles to us.

Previous Uefa Cup games:
Hertha BSC Berlin 1-1 SL Benfica
Galatasaray AŞ 1-0 Olympiacos CFP

The Spanish Coach Quique Flores said to the Press:

“The match against Galatasaray SC will be different from the last one we played against Vitória FC. I will not talk about our strategy because than I would be probably giving some cards to our opponents. The most important thing now, is that we need to have a clear idea of what is needed to be done, during the game. We will need to have the ball on our side to have the control of the game I think you’ll see a different Benfica.”

Meira told the Press:
“This will be a special game to me. I’ll feel good entering that stadium again. The game won’t be easy for us, Benfica is a great team, but we will try to keep at least one point.”

Sport Lisboa e Benfica

Goalkeepers: Quim and Moreira;

Defenders: Luisão, Maxi Pereira, Sidnei, Jorge Ribeiro and Miguel Vítor;
Midfileders: Binya, Aimar, Carlos Martins, Di María, Katsouranis, Reyes, Rúben Amorim, Urreta and Yebda;
Forwards: Suazo, Nuno Gomes and Cardozo;
Coach: Quique Flores.

Referee
Martin Atkinson (ENG)
Assistant referee
Peter Kirkup (ENG) Mo Matadar (ENG)

Miklós Fehér (1979-2004)

In that day, I decided to stay at home watching the dislocation of SL Benfica to Guimarães.

The game against Vitória Sport Clube was developing normally until the fatidic moment, when the referee showed the yellow card to a Benfica’s player. The player smiled to that decision, but the worst was yet to come. He felt bad and fall down like loosing completely is vitality.

Everybody tried to help him. An ambulance came, entered the stadium and stayed there for an eternity. We all expected that the ambulance’s door would be opened and that someone could give us a good new. But that moment never occurred …

The young player name was, Miklós Fehér and God decided to take him away from us all and away from the pitches where he loved to play.

Last Sunday the SL Benfica’s Club representation left flowers, in the place where Fehér died.

Miki’s smile will be forever in everyone’s heart.

http://www.slbenfica.pt/Adeptos/GaleriaFotos/Memorial/miklosfeher.asp

http://www.fehermiklos.hu/

Liga Sagres: SL Benfica 2–1 Associação Naval 1º de Maio

The Encarnados beat Naval 2-1 on Sunday. Quique’s squad opened the score with a goal from Luisão. Then there were a few missed chances. The visitors were dangerous in two or three chances and scored near the end. Fortunately the tall Cardozo responded well to a ball crossed from the left and scored the second goal.

Óscar René Cardozo Marin (20/05/1983)

Óscar Cardozo, also known as “Tacuara” was born in Paraguay. People used to call him “Tacuara” because it is the guarani word for bamboo tree, a common nickame for tall people (Cardozo is 1.92cm tall) in Paraguay.

The Republic of Paraguay has the following neighbors: Argentina on South and Southwest, Brazil on the East and Northeast, and Bolivia to the Northwest. The territory consisted of Guarani-speaking tribes, who were recognized for their warrior traditions. Spaniards arrived in the early sixteenth century and the settlement of Asunción was founded on 1537 by the Spanish explorer Juan de Salazar y Espinoza. On 1811, Paraguay declared its independence after overthrowing the local Spanish administration.

Cardozo first football Clubs were Club 24 de Junio and the Club Atlético 3 de Febrero of Ciudad del Este. Later in 2005 and in Asunción, Cardozo was already the Top scorer of the Club Nacional. The brilliant player signed then for Club Atlético Newell’s Old Boys from Argentine and soon revealed his appetence for the goals, scoring eleven goals in 16 games played in the Apertura Tournament 2006.

The good work resulted well and he was awarded, in 2006, the Paraguayan Footballer of the year by the Sport reporters and by the public. This award is given every year, by the newspaper Diario ABC Color.

The prize and the good performance in the beginning of the 2007 season, called the attention of several Clubs and of course, of the Administration of SL Benfica, so after the negotiations he signed for our Club, Sport Lisboa e Benfica on June of that same year.

UEFA CUP Group Stage

Hertha Berliner Sport Club von 1892 vs Sport Lisboa e Benfica

On the 25th of July 1892, two sets of brothers Fritz and Max Linder and Otto and Willi Lorenz, founded the club BFC Hertha 92. Somewhere in the districts of Wedding or Prenzlauer Berg, between where the Berlin Wall would run, they played their matches.

The name Hertha comes from the fact that Fritz Linder decided to name the club after a steam boat, which he and his father had made a day trip on. On the funnel of the “Hertha” was the shipping company’s colours, white with blue stripes, which are to this day also the colours of Hertha BSC. A blue cap was worn by the players in order for them to be distinguished from the other team. The team did not wear club jerseys until the turn of the century.

In 1901 Hertha became a member of the German Association of Ball Playing Clubs (VDB). In the first season Hertha took their place in the two second league and finished in second place.

The Portuguese Cup competition started well for the reds.

Last Sunday, SL Benfica beat Futebol Clube Penafiel, on penalties. After 90 minutes and an extra time without goals, the game went to the penalties lottery and the final result was 5 -3. Two players were in evidence Makukula, demonstrating that he could be very important during the present season and Moreira. The goalkeeper had a very good performance after so much time far from the principal team.

José Filipe da Silva Moreira (20/03/1982)

Moreira was born in Massarelos in 1982 and soon become a Benfica fan. His grandparents liked very much the Club and probably influenced his choice. With the age of ten he started playing for a northern team, known as the northern Benfica, the Sport Comércio e Salgueiros. By that time he used to play in the midfield and wanted to be seen. But he did not take much time to realize that he played better as goalkeeper.

Several Clubs were following the young goalkeeper, but Moreira decided to sign contract with SL Benfica and two years later he was travelling to Lisbon, we were in 1999 and he was by that time 17een years old. The big city scared him but he was rapidly integrated with his fellow mates, like Nuno Gomes and Karel Poborsky for instance. He was missing his family a lot, but the dream was starting to become real and when he saw 90.000 supporters in the game against FC Bayern Munchen, he decided to wait for his opportunity.

Now, the Clube Desportivo das Aves is the next opponent of our team, on the Portuguese Cup.

Federação Portuguesa de Futebol

Benfica TV Gains Life

Benfica TV already gains life. For the first time in Portugal, appears a TV Channel that goes to make the difference. This Channel will allow the divulgation of the Sport Lisboa e Benfica Brand.

The workers of Benfica TV will have their own space in our Stadium. The job redaction and the Studies will also be there and a great panoramic view to the pitch is guaranteed.

The new channel will soon become a splendid investment, so many TV Companies will be interested on having the Benfica Channel on their offer. Clix Smart and AR Telecom made the first moves, but the first transmission belonged to Meo. This experience took place in the “Estádio da Luz” in the game of SLB against Napoli.

The Thursday test gave important information of what needs to be improved. In the stadium there were 15 cameras and one of them made the difference, the “spider-cam”. This “spider-cam” was in the pitch center at 62 meters high. Almost all African Countries of Portuguese Language could watch this important game. The partnership between Benfica and Portugal Telecom allowed the game transmission also to France, Albania, Italy, Malt, United States, Canada, Brazil and some others, like those who, have access to watch the Al Jazeera TV.

Ricardo Palacin was invited to be the Director of this innovating project and his experience will be vital now.

To the Press Ricardo Palacin said:

“We want to be an agency of communication serving Sport Lisboa e Benfica, betting in directs and in fresh news. On the other hand, we want to stimulate the public participation and to bet in talk-shows and documentaries, without forgetting the past of the Club. Other sports, formation and the football entrainments in the “Caixa Futebol Campus” will also be contemplated.

The Marketing wasn’t forgotten and the result can already be seen in the beautiful Logo. The first letter of the word Benfica in the Logo looks like an eagle flying giving the sensation of nobility and independence.

The Benfica TV begins working on the first days of November, promising amazing on time information and lots of entertainment to everybody.

So, do not miss!

Uefa Group Stage Draw

After the brilliant victory on thursday night against the Italian team of Napoli, now becomes known the teams SL Benfica will face in the groups stage.

On last thurday Benfica received SSC Napoli and needed to win the game. After a first half where both teams were trying to know each other and trying to controll the game, came an enthusiastic second half. Quique knew then was the right time to resolve the game, so passed that message to the players. Benfica started playing good football, and the goal would appear sooner or later and it really occurred on the 57th minute. Reyes scored another great goal and left the 56500 spectators atonished. When Carlos Martins made the pass to Nuno Gomes score the second goal, on the 84th minute a sensation of relieve appeared in the Benfica players and in the red fans among the public.

Although the International great exibithion, last night Benfica returned to the Portuguese League making the habitual errors of the last long years. Every portuguese football lover kows that, there are only two main objectives in certain Clubs, Coaches and Teams from the Liga Sagres. The first one is to maintain their Football Team between the best Portuguese Clubs, in the first league. The second one, is that they all know, that unfortunately, the only moment they will be talked about seriously in the press is, when they play against 3 or 4 teams in Portugal. In this occasions the Stadiums are full, altough the ticket prices in these games become high and the TVs with their audiences and shares make the rest.

These are some of the reasons, why Quique Flores should know, that these opponent players will want to make their best perfomance in these moments. Respecting these Clubs and avoiding draws to one goal, like that occurred yesterday in Estádio do Mar agains Leixões Sport Club, the easiest solution is to make, as soon as possible, a two goals difference. After that our team will certanly become more solid, more strong and less tired. Probably the team will also have more spaces to explore in the opposit deffense. This may not be the solution for getting the 3 points, but one thing is for sure, the fans would enjoy watching the game.

Uefa Group Stage

23 October: Hertha BSC Berlin – SL Benfica;
6 November: SL Benfica - Galatasaray AS;
27 November: Olympiacos CFP – SL Benfica;
3 December: Rest;
18 December: SL Benfica – FC Metalist.Kharkiv.

The Union of European Football Associations: UEFA CUP » Second Leg

Sport Lisboa e Benfica vs Sporting Clube Portugal

On Saturday night our glorious team defeated the Lisbon rivals Sporting C.P. on a tactical match.

Quique Flores decided to leave Katsouranis and Aimar on the bench during the first half and they became the key to solve the game. Both teams were very similar on this first part and the null was the correct result.

On the second half, the “Encarnados” Coach decided to give more dynamic to the game, and launched these two players that made the difference. Katso helped the team to gain control of the midfield and Aimar opened spaces on the frontline, making also a brilliant pass to Reyes who scored the 1st goal. From one defender came the second goal of the night, five minutes after the first one. Sidnei who was part of the central defenders, with Miguel Vitor, responded accurately with his head to a Carlos Martins free-kick.


Sport Lisboa e Benfica vs Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli S.p.A.

Now after the last Saturday brilliant victory against Sporting Clube Portugal, Benfica returns to the Uefa International Competitions.

After a 3-2 defeat on the San Paolo in Naples a victory is needed. One goal difference win, can be enough, to achieve the next round. Napoli will certainly make the things difficult to the reds. S.L. Benfica will not be able to count with Cardozo, Makukula and Suazo for different reasons, so Nuno Gomes will need the support of all the team to be able to score the dreamed goal.


Sport Lisboa e Benfica

Goalkeepers: Quim and Moreira;

Defenders: Léo, Luisão, Maxi Pereira, Sidnei, Jorge Ribeiro and Miguel Vítor;

Midfileders: Balboa, Binya, Aimar, Carlos Martins, Di María, Katsouranis, Reyes, Rúben Amorim, Urreta and Yebda;

Forwards: Nuno Gomes and Nélson Oliveira;

Coach: Quique Flores.

Liga Sagres: Paços de Ferreira 3 – SL Benfica 4

Yesterday SL Benfica won the away game against Paços de Ferreira, the striker Nuno Gomes scored the first goal.

The Captain with a good performance commanded the Encarnados team to the victory in an extremely difficult field. The home team was loosing in three occasions, but never gave up. Both teams were better attacking than defending and the result was uncertain till the end.

Quique Flores must be glad with the performance of some players like Sidney, Yebda and Carlos Martins. Reyes and Aimar are knowing better their companions and that helps their improvement. Léo did not play and Jorge Ribeiro demonstrated that will work hard to have other chances.

Nuno Miguel Soares Pereira Ribeiro (05-07-1976)

The Striker Nuno was born in Amarante, a beautiful region in the North of Portugal. When he was younger he used to watch Fernando Gomes play and he appreciated him a lot. Nuno wanted to score many goals like Fernando Gomes used to score, so he decided to use the last name, of this great striker.

Nuno Gomes soon called the press attentions while representing Boavista FC and was transferred to our Club in 2000.

The good games attracted the international attentions and ACF Fiorentina took him to Italy. The financial problems of Fiorentina took Nuno back to Lisbon and back to Glorioso.

After lots of important goals scored and some sad injuries, Nuno seems to be ready for an Amazing season.

The Union of European Football Associations: UEFA CUP » First Leg

Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli S.p.A. vs Sport Lisboa e Benfica

The Italian team known as Napoli will receive tomorrow night S.L. Benfica. The first round of the Uefa Cup will take place in Stadio San Paolo in Naples, where are expected to be more than 40.000 spectators.

Napoli was founded in 1904, won 2 Italian Championships, one Super Cup and 3 Italian Cups. The Naples team won also the Uefa Cup in a two legs final, in the season of 1988/89.

Very good players represented the Club along the years, but one name comes always in the front line, Diego Armando Maradona. This magic player is considered to be, the best player, who ever represented Napoli. Other two known players, Careca and Alemão, helped Maradona to make a team of champions.

Tomorrow the coach Edoardo Reja, will not count with Maradona. Perhaps another argentine player may do the difference, his name Ezequiel Lavezzi. We hope Quique Flores has the “magical potion” to stop him and his mates.


Sport Lisboa e Benfica

Goalkeepers: Quim, Moreira and Moretto;

Defenders: Léo, Luisão, Maxi Pereira, Sidnei, Jorge Ribeiro and Miguel Vítor;

Midfileders: Balboa, Binya, Carlos Martins, Di María, Katsouranis, Reyes, Rúben Amorim, Urreta and Yebda;

Forwards: Nuno Gomes and Suazo;

Coach: Quique Flores.

Are we ready to win?

Quique Flores inherited a dispirited team who consistently failed to break FC Porto domination in the last years. A fourth place in last Portuguese League is obviously not enough to the supporters.

Rui Costa and Quique Flores understood that, and before they sign with any great players, they decided to sign in, with an experienced Coaching Staff.

To join Fernando Chalana, who already was in SL Benfica, and that had been promoted, after the difficult decision of Camacho to exit the Club, came Diamantino Miranda. Both man had played for several years in the main SL Benfica football team.

The two Portuguese Coaches know, better that anyone, in the Coaching Staff, the way the teams in the “Liga Sagres“ intend to play. They won’t need to study much, to be able to communicate to Quique Flores, how defensive certain teams are or, what kind of difficulties, our team will face in several stadiums, apart from the number of the supporters Benfica may have.

Fran Escribá seems to have a similar function of the two Portuguese Coaches, but he has a specific work to do. Escribá will have to study the way the opponent teams will act in the fields. Tactics, offensive and defensive processes will need to be studied. Observe and analyse the other team will be fundamental.

Emílio Alvarez, who also worked before with Quique, in Getafe and in Valência, as the important task, to train the goalkeepers. Quim, Moreira and Moretto, the Benfica goalkeepers’, will for sure be in great shape and ready to play when Quique intends to.

Finally comes one of the most important names in the Staff, Pako Ayestarán. This amazing fitness trainer, wanted by many Club’s., made part of his recent career with Rafael Benitez in Liverpool and before that in Spain. Ayestarán is doing an essential work with the Benfica players.

The best Coaches now how important is to have a team physically and psychology in good shape. To be winners the players need to be ready for winning.

Enrique Sanchez Flores (02/02/1965) – The first Classic

Quique Flores was born in Madrid. His father Isidro Sanchez played in Real Madrid CF football team, during the sixties. Quique’s mother, Cármen Flores, is known as actress and also as singer.

Quique Flores played for Valencia CF more than two hundred matches, scoring 14 goals. He also played for Real Madrid CF and for Real Zaragoza, S.A.D.. Quique also joined the Spanish National Team during the 1990 Fifa World Cup, held in Italy.

The career as Coach started with the young Real Madrid CF players, like Balboa. They wan the Championship Title. After that experience went to a new team on the “Primera División”, Getafe CF, in the year of 2004. The good work was recognised by the Spanish critic and he moved to Valencia CF. Here he obtained the access to the Champions League in two years, achieving a third and a fourth place in the Spanish League.

Quique is now facing new targets in Rui Costa’s Benfica. He has the clear perception that when things aren’t well enough, something needs to be changed. That is the main reason why he wanted so much some new players for SL Benfica. New players for the team, but not for the coach, Quique needed them to make a positive revolution in the Club.

Although some new players have participated in the last Saturday match against Porto FC, some realities do not change easily: SL Benfica did not win, the final result was one equal; two players (Leo and Aimar) left the field injured before the end of the game; one player (Katsouranis) was sent off with a red card and another one (Luisão) was now punished and won’t be able to play, in the next one or two games of the Portuguese League.

To make a better SL Benfica, Quique needs more than the help from the players. Everybody in the Benfica structure have to work together to make the dream come true. That includes naturally, not only his technical staff (F. Escribá, E. Alvarez, P. Ayestaran, D. Miranda and F. Chalana) but also L.F. Vieira, R. Costa, all fans/supporters and above all every single person inside the organization.

Only with a very strong and solid group, Quique’s Benfica will be able to resist here in Portugal.

The Football Competition “Liga Sagres” started

The Portuguese league began on the past weekend. Now all Benfica’s fans hope to win the championship.

The Mystic from Benfica begins when we are born. No one can teach us, how to be from SL Benfica, we simply start belonging to this Club.

As a child I grew up, feeling Benfica everywhere I would go. The few Media Portugal had by that time, always gave most justified relevance to our Club. I remember that all the family stayed in front of the Black and White Television watching the Lisbon team playing. Some people, like my Grandfather, preferred to ear the match on the radio.

If my Grandfather was alive, he wouldn’t understand why I am so expectant on, the kick off, of this new season. On Sunday Benfica played in Rio Ave’s field and the result was a draw. Both teams scored one goal. When my Grandpa lived, Benfica had seasons, where we could count by the fingers, of our hands, the number of points that the Club had lost during that same Championship.

Times have changed, nowadays the Club’s Management with the precious collaboration of Rui Costa, invited the Spanish Coach, Quique Flores, to reformulate the team.

A victorious team is being created, and the players will certainly feel the Mystic. That’s the reason why, Grandpa, I have so much faith.

Ángel Di María (14/02/1988) – Beijing 2008 Gold Medal

Di Maria helped, on the past Saturday, Argentina revalidating the Men’s Football Olympic Title. Argentina had won the Gold Medals before in Athens 2004. On these Olympic Games, the young player had a preponderant work on the team, and also scored the victory goal.

The Beijing National Stadium received the final match, Argentina played against Nigeria. The National Team of Nigeria was giving a good replica, until the 58th minute when, Di Maria that received a great pass from Messi, ran along the left side and made the ball go over the Nigerian goalkeeper, scoring a beautiful goal.

Ángel had already scored a goal earlier on this tournament, while playing on the match against Holland.

To the Press he said:

“I didn’t expect to score the goal. The few seconds, while the ball was passing over the Keeper, took to long.”

“We have the Gold Medals and that’s what really matters.”

1. Argentina
2. Nigeria
3. Brazil

Di Maria arrived to SL Benfica on the Year of 2007, since then has demonstrated his abilities. The new Benfica’s coach, Quique Flores, will certainly appreciate his talent on the team.

Nélson Évora (20/04/1984) - When a star jumps to the Gold in Beijing

The Portuguese Athlete Nélson Évora, won yesterday the Olympic Gold medal, in the Men's Triple Jump.

Nélson came to Portugal very young and soon started to get interested by Athletics.

The first results on High Jumping were amazing, but he became injured on his knee, so he had to change to the disciplines of triple and long jump.

On the World Championships, the medals and the broken records appeared with work, dedication and of course with the help of João Ganço, his couch.
To the Press he said:

“I am very happy for winning this Gold Medal. I cried a lot when I realized I had won and made my dream come true. Although I had already won the medal I tried to improve in the last jump, but the forces weren’t the same”

“After the victory I stayed a long time inside the stadium, taking pictures and giving autographs. I also took some of the sand from the box. The Portuguese flag I had around my body was written, by my friends and family to encourage me.”

“I would like to dedicate this victory to my family, in particular to my father to whom I have made a promise.”

1. Nélson Évora (POR), 17,67 m

2. Philips Idowu (GB), 17,62 m

3. Leevan Sands (Bah), 17,59 m

Today Nélson received his deserved Olympic Gold Medal.

Vanessa de Sousa Fernandes (14/09/1985) – Beijing 2008 Silver Medal

Vanessa Fernandes won yesterday the Olympic silver medal in the Women's Triathlon.

To the Press she said:

“Winning this silver medal is very important. I feel a fantastic sensation, like if I had won the Gold medal.

It was very difficult to me because I hadn’t any Portuguese colleague with me. To compete in the Triathlon alone is very hard. I tried to take the lead but I didn’t feel well on the first cycle laps. Fortunately I was able to recover and get the second place.

Representing our country in this kind of event is not a piece of cake. We athletes must be proud and aware of how important these competitions are. If we don’t understand that and don’s take it serious, the better option is not to come. It is my responsibility and of each one of us athletes to be at the top, on the day we are going to compete, being ready to give our best.

I want to dedicate this medal to my family, friends and to all the Portuguese people who stayed awake watching me.”

1. Emma Snowsill (Australia), 1:58:27.66

2. Vanessa Fernandes (Portugal), +1:06.97

3. Emma Moffatt (Australia), +1:28.18

The coach Sérgio Santos considers that, the winning of the Silver Medal, is a big moment for the Portuguese Sport. To the press he also said:

”Vanessa worked a lot to achieve this goal. She deserves all the best and also much respect for everything she has been doing for the Portuguese Sport. Now let’s leave her celebrate with her team and family.”

The Women's Triathlon is divided in 3 competitions: swimming – 1500 m; Cycling - 40 km and running - 10 km. This is a continuous competition with no stop between the legs.

Eusébio Cup – Tribute to a “King”

There is a new pre-season tournament in Portugal. It’s name Eusébio Cup.

The event is a tribute to the “King” Eusébio and will occur every year at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon. On this first year, there will be only a single match, SL Benfica will face the FC Internazionale Milano.

Eusébio, who could have joined Angelo Moratti’s Inter in 1966 but the Italian football banned foreign players after the national team defeat against North Korea in the World Cup. In March Eusébio was a guest of Inter centenary celebrations at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.

Eusébio also known as the “Black Panther” said to the Press:

“I was already honored for having a statue in the Estádio da Luz and now the creation of this tournament, exceeds all my expectations. I hope to live for many and long years, now I know for sure, that the future generations will remember me. I think that the Internazionale Milano team was well chosen, I played against them and I remember they wanted me playing on their side. Nowadays the Inter’s team has a great coach José Mourinho and we can’t forget Portuguese players like Figo and Pelé that also play there. I expect a good match and I hope the Trophy stays here at home.”

Eusébio da Silva Ferreira was born in 1943 in the Portuguese ex-colony Mozambique.

The city of Lourenço Marques (Maputo) watched the young Eusébio growing in the streets of Mafalala, playing football with any kind of ball he could found.

Eusébio tried to enter the Club “O Desportivo”, after playing in a kids team called “Os Brasileiros”, but they refused him. He wanted so much to play that decided to go to the rival team, Sporting Lourenço Marques where he was accepted.

This was just the beginning ….

After that, Benfica signed him and there he made his dreams and of all Benfica fans come true. All over the world the football lovers who saw him also in the Portuguese National Team were amazed with the player who became a legend.

An extraordinary player was born and the space for his trophies was never enough. Never enough will be also any tribute to the “Black Panther”.

Eusébio is the best Portuguese player of all times, being also between the 10 better players of the world.

João Manuel Vieira Pinto (19/08/1971) – Golden Kid Retires

The striker João Pinto that for 9 seasons represented SL Benfica, has decided now to retire at the age of 36.

João Pinto joined SL Benfica in 1992, winning the league title on the following season (1993/94), playing in the famous away victory 6-3 against Sporting Cp.

This great Player soon became Captain of the eagle’s team and made plenty of fantastic games scoring over 100 goals.

João Pinto enjoyed playing with the ball on his feet making the ball roll and wasn’t afraid of that responsibility. Also secure facing his opponents (on one to one) with wonderful dribbling skills. Very good on short and long pass. He also won 2 Portuguese Cups with the red shirt.

To the Press he said:

“I’ve offers from some Clubs but I think this is the perfect time to end my career. Now it’s time to rest and to enjoy watching my son Tiago playing. I also want to say thanks to my family and to all the Clubs I represented.”

João Pinto is considered by many as the most amazing Benfica player of that decade.

Armando Gonçalves Teixeira (25/09/1976) - Petit, the Pitbull

After 6 years the midfielder Petit decided to leave SL Benfica.

The player’s intention was to terminate his career playing on SL Benfica, but the opportunity to play on the German League, Bundesliga representing FC Köln, made him change his mind.

Petit is a fast and strong midfielder that can fit in any team. He is the kind of player who gives everything for his team and never gives up recovering a ball. Enormous contribute on the defensive job.

Petit helped SL Benfica winning the 2005 Portuguese league title.

To the Press he said:

“After 6 years wearing Benfica’s shirt and on a very happy moment of my life, I received an invitation from abroad that I couldn’t refuse. I talked with the Club and demonstrated to them my wish. I thank them for understanding my reasons and for letting me go. On this moment, I have a sensation of joy for my first experience abroad, but on the other side I feel a bit sad for leaving my Club and my team-mates. I would like to thank everybody and leave a message of optimism to the fans. Although I’m leaving Benfica I realize that is being done a very important job here and that in shortly the Club will be again where it belongs.”

Thank you Petit for the way you always gave everything for our team.

The new shirts

The S.L. Benfica's football team has new equipments.
On the new shirt, we will be able to see 3 stars, above the symbol.
Each of this stars represent 10 of the 31 Portuguese Championships the club won until now.

Adidas Europass Portugal

It is called Adidas Europass Portugal, the Official Ball of the 3 Portuguese competitions: Liga Sagres 2008-09, Liga Vitalis 2008-09 and the Carlsberg Cup.

The ball’s new surface structure allows players to control and direct it perfectly in all weather conditions. The revolutionary PSC- Texture™ consists of a sophisticated and extremely fine structure on the ball’s outer skin that guarantees optimum grip between ball and boot.

This ball created for the Portuguese competitions is inspired on the Portuguese flag.

The experience of adidas in football production began in 1963. Adidas has supplied the Official Match Balls to all major UEFA and FIFA tournaments since 1970.

Sport Lisboa e Benfica Foundation

28th February 1904

The foundation of the football club, Grupo Sport Lisboa (1st designation) took place at the Franco’s Pharmacy, located on the Belém street. There were 24 people in that reunion including the co-founder and the future soul of the club, Cosme Damião. José Rosa Rodrigues was appointed the President of the Club.

Later, In 1908, the Grupo Sport Lisboa acquired by mutual agreement the Sport Clube de Benfica. None of the clubs were destroyed: the first maintained the football team, the red and white shirt colors, the eagle as a symbol, the E Pluribus Unum as the motto, and the logo. The other the football field, the main directors, and the club's house; the foundation date was chosen the one of the Grupo Sport Lisboa, as it was the most important club of the reunion, being also already quite popular around Lisbon because of is football merits.

A bicycle wheel was then chosen to join the logo, as it was the most important sport of Sport Clube de Benfica. Benfica was added to the Sport Lisboa name.