Liga Sagres: Sport Lisboa e Benfica 1-0 Futebol Clube Porto

The eagles dominated the Portuguese Champion FC Porto and demontrated they want the 1st place.

SL Benfica received last Sunday the team of Porto, the night was cold and with lots of rain. The Stadium was full, almost 64 000 spectators did not fear the bad weather, but who suffered the most with those conditions was the pitch and the artists of both teams. SL Benfica had to enter the game with different players, if we consider the usual team. Urreta, Carlos Martins and C. Peixoto demonstrated they are in the first eleven but have the qualities needed to also belong there.

The game was very tactical, maybe because both coaches, Jorge Jesus and Jesualdo Ferreira, knew that a defeat could make some damage on the team prestige and probably be an psichological unadvantage. After the result of FC Porto obtained in Madrid with unexpected numbers, few believed that the reds were going to control the game so well.

Saviola cannot be many games away from the goals, and when Cardozo doesn’t score, there he cames, to show he also makes the difference. El Conejo, or the rabbit, as he his known, made an important goal that consolidates the position of the team in the top of the Portuguese League Sagres near SC Braga. Carlos Martins also made a fantastic 1st half and it was noticed he gave all he could, by his exhaustion on the second part of the game. Porto played a bit better on the second part Another important factor was the lesion of Ramires. Fortunately Luisão and once again David Luiz showed their qualities. Quim responded very well when needed and also the players who entered, Luis Filipe, F. Menezes and Weldon demonstrated that they want other chances. A final word to the habitual good perfomances of Maxi Pereira and Javi Garcia.

A Victory finishing the Europa League Group I

Benfica finishes the Europa League group phase with a victory. The greeks of AEK Athens come to Lisbon wanting to repeat the result obtained in Athens but faced a solid team that did not give them that chance. Angel Di Maria wanted to recover his image and he did it. The argentine football player made an amazing exhibition and obtaining also the two goals of the reds. The Greeks reduced but their lack of motivation was evident, so the game ended with a 2-1 victory for our team.

Uefa Europa League Draw

The draw made today in Nyon, Switzerland, decided that the European SL Benfica, will play, once more, against Hertha BSC Berlin in the next knockout round.

The next obstacle of the reds, the German team of Hertha BSC Berlin, has played earlier in the group phase against another Portuguese team Sporting CP,at the end, the results between them were, one game lost away and other won at home, both with the same final result 1-0.

To be present on the next draw, the Eagles will need to eliminate the German team, knowing that they will want to be present, on a final, that takes place on their own country. In fact, the Final will be on Wednesday 12 May in Hamburg. But the reds want to have the privilege, to be one of the finalists. Let's try to win and thing on the next rounds, step by step, The quarter-finals are played on 1 and 8 April, the semi-finals on 22 and 29 April.

Great victories before Xmas makes the fans dream with Titles. Let’s show our true value in the new and happy year of 2o1o.

Europa League: Sport Lisboa e Benfica vs AEK Athens FC

Now it is time to receive AEK Athens FC. The Greek team has been the only team, until now, who had won us, for the Europa League group phase. By that time and after a defeat in Greece, on the second group game, few could have expect that by this time Benfica would be the first of the group and AEK, was fighting for avoid the last place of the group. This game, may allow some less used players to show their value and also to let them demonstrate that they deserve more opportunities. Let's hope that, if tonight any other earthquake occurs in Portugal, it will not be 6.0 Richter scale, but on a scale of goals scored: 6 goals for Benfica of course.

Jorge Jesus to the Press:
"Roderick Miranda will play for sure, we can't say yet where he will play but he will be in the eleven for sure. " About the next two games: "I want to win both games, nevertheless if I had to choose one I had to win, I would for sure prefer to win the one counting for the Portuguese League, next Sunday."

Dušan Bajević the Press
Also the coach of Geraldo and Manduka, who dressed before the red colours, rather prefers to win the league match. "It is natural that both teams are now more concentrated on the national Leagues. The group is decided, but of course I think both teams will try to win the game tomorrow (today) and give their best in the Europa League."

Sport Lisboa e Benfica
Goalkeepers: Moreira and Júlio César;
Defenders: Luís Filipe, Maxi Pereira, Roderick Miranda, Luisão, Miguel Vítor, Sidnei, Shaffer and Peixoto;
Midfielders: Javi Garcia, Carlos Martins, Felipe Menezes and Di María;
Forwards: Óscar Cardozo, Nuno Gomes, Weldon and Keirrison;
Coach: Jorge Jesus.

Referee Gianluca Rocchi (ITA) Assistant referee Luca Maggiani (ITA) Nicola Nicoletti (ITA) Additional assistant referee Luca Banti (ITA) Emidio Morganti (ITA) Fourth official Christian Brighi (ITA)

Liga Sagres: Sporting Clube Olhanense 2-2 Sport Lisboa e Benfica

A terrible nightmare emerged, last weekend, from the adorable nights of Algarve.

SL Benfica went to visit the historic team of Olhanense, but almost everything went wrong. Although the nights of "Allgarve" may be extremely animated and enthusiastic, specially in the summer, this was not one of those. There were no tourists and no hot weather, probably that was the main reason why the red players forgot to play football.

The team of Olhão, SC Olhanense, has been away of the first Portuguese League since 1975, and we gladly appreciate a presence of a team of the South of Portugal among the best teams of our country. The presence of Algarve teams, in the 1st League, is something important and we hope that the presence of this team or of other clubs from the same region becomes more often.

The reds coach Jorge Jesus, who had played, on those remote times, for the Olhanense team knew perfectly well that this would be an important game for the Algarvian team. Knowing this and also that, SC Olhanense team is mainly composed for young players, somehow related to Benfica, Sporting and Porto also trained by an old porto player Jorge Costa, J. Jesus should have prepared better the eagles team to this game.

Before the game has started we lost somehow P. Aimar, injured. The team of Olhão entered well on the game and scored on the 10th minute by C. Fernandes. After the red card been shown to the Olhanense player, Djalmir, Saviola scored for Benfica. But before the end of the first half Toy scored again, for the home team, and things become even worse when Ramires also become injured.

On the second half, many red fans were worried for the booking possibility of David Luiz, an eventual 5th yellow card, that could let him out of the next home game against the Portuguese Champion FC Porto, but Soares Dias, the game referee, avoid to show him that same card. Who did not have the same luck was F. Coentrão with an Yellow card and Di Maria who once again reacted irresponsibly to an opponent and saw the red card. When the game was ending Miguel Garcia intended to do justice with his own hands, or better with is own feet, and went out of the game, sawing a red card, after a displacing aggression to D. Luiz. Nuno Gomes who had taken the place of Coentrão had the chance and scored well, before the final of the game, 92’.

A total disillusion of the red fans, not only for the result but mainly for the lack of dynamic. Also disappointed were the Olhanense coach who deserved a better result and see once again two important points disappear so rapidity.

The question is simple: Who will need more this 2 points at the end of the championship?

Liga Sagres: SL Benfica 4-0 Associação Académica de Coimbra

SL Benfica with this victory is with the same points of SC Braga in the top of the Portuguese League classification.

For the Portuguese League, Liga Sagres, Benfica received last Sunday night the “students” team. The Associação Académica de Coimbra visited Luz with the hope of obtaining a victory. In fact, the last two visits from the Académica team to the eagles nest had similed to them, where they won both games. The game was marked by lots of rain and lots of goals but, this time, for the reds. Óscar Cardozo with 3 goals and Saviola with the most beautiful goal of the night gave a tremendous hapinness to all the fans present in Luz.

Benfica brought from the Belarus cold 3 precious points that guarantee to the reds the 1st place of the Uefa Europa League group I.

The eagles went to play against FC BATE Borisov last Wednesday and obtained a very important victory. Two goals from the eagles against one from the Belarussian team gives us hope at the next knockout stages draw. One of the main advantages of being the group winner is to avoid the teams that are coming from the Champions League.

The game was disputed on the Dinamo stadium in Minsk (10.000), and some changes were operated by Jorge Jesus: Fábio Coentrão took the place of Di Maria and F. Menezes the place of Aimar, Miguel Vitor played instead of Luisão and Júlio César was the goalkeeper. The low temperatures were probably the main reason for the reds apathy, mainly, on the first half, where FC BATE was the only team near the goal, on a Krivets free kick. Fortunately, the second half couldn’t have started better. A brilliant triangular process, between Filipe Menezes and Fábio Coentrão originated the opportunity to Saviola (46’) score and he did it. Saviola again on the left side of the reds attack, had another chance and gave it to Coentrão (63’) that took it, making the second goal for the reds. The players of FC BATE were dangerous on free kicks and on corners and reached the goal on a Miguel Vitor own goal. When Di Maria and Aimar entered the game, could have scored but, the really important thing now is the group position achieved.

Europa League: FC BATE Borisov vs Sport Lisboa e Benfica

SL Benfica will play tonight against FC BATE, fighting not only, for a point that gives access to the next round, but for a victory.

The Football Club Borisov Works of Automobile and Tractor Electronic Equipment was founded in 1973. FC BATE is the 2oo8 Champions of the Belarus and also of the last two years. The team also won the Belarus Championship on 1999 and 2002.

The plane took during a 4.30h journey the twenty one players that are available to play later in Minsk. On the other side, Jorge Jesus will no be able to count with Sidnei, Carlos Martins, Luis Filipe and Luisão but for sure other players will be good alternatives.

Although the low temperatures on the Belarus, the players only think on achieving a victory. The cold may be a problem for the reds but never a excuse, like Ramires says and when they enter the pitch to play against the Yellow-blue team of Borisov they will certanly forget it quickly.

www.Weather.com

Jorge Jesus to the Press:
“We will not face this game thinking that a draw gives us the qualification to the next phase. Our idea is to win here, that may allow us to obtain the group first place.”

Viktor Goncharenko to the Press:
“We know very weel the Benfica team. He hope to win the game, although a draw would be satisfatory, and tet’s see what happens on the other group game.”

Town Stadium: Stadion Horodskiy(20h local time)

Futbolniy Klub Borisov Works of Automobile and Tractor Electronic Equipment
Goalkeepers: Sergei Veremko and Dmytro Ivanov;
Defenders: Sergei Sosnovski, Igor Shitov, Aleksandr Yurevich, Artyom Radkov, Maksim Bordachov and Vladimir Rzhevski;
Midfileders: Dmitri Likhtarovich, Aleksandr Volodko, Sergei Krivets, Aleksandr Pavlov, Igor Stasevich, Mikhail Kravchuk and Maksim Volodko;
Forwards: Vitali Bulyga, Aleksandr Alumona, Vitali Rodionov and Hovannes Goaryan.
Coach: Viktor Goncharenko.

Sport Lisboa e Benfica
Goalkeepers: Quim, Moreira, Júlio César;
Defenders: Maxi Pereira, Roderick Miranda, Miguel Vítor, David Luiz, Shaffer, César Peixoto;
Midfielders: Javi Garcia, Ramires, Ruben Amorim, Pablo Aimar, Di María, Fábio Coentrão, Felipe Menezes;
Forwards: Saviola, Cardozo, Nuno Gomes, Weldon, Keirrison;
Coach: Jorge Jesus.

Referee
Thomas Einwaller (AUT)
Assistant referee
Norbert Schwab (AUT) Klaus Strasser (AUT)
Additional assistant referee
Bernhard Brugger (AUT) Dietmar Drabek (AUT)
Thomas Prammer (AUT)

Liga Sagres: Sporting Clube de Portugal 0-0 Sport Lisboa e Benfica

Last weekend the eagles visited the lions and a null draw was the final result.

SL Benfica went to a full Alvalade Stadium last Saturday night where our team played against Sporting Clube Portugal. The greens (SCP) were in a difficult period, on the 8th place and with a distance of eleven points from the top. The eagles were in better shape but knewing that in those conditions it wouldn’t be an easy game.

The game turned out very tactical and much miedfield played. Carlos Carvalhal the lions new coach did eveything he could to show a good team on his first derby. Jorge Jesus awaited for a genious to appear on the game like Di Maria or Pablo aimar.

Few oportunities on a good game, where the result made justice to both teams perfomance. On the eagles side Cardozo, Quim and Ramires were in evidence. Also David Luiz and Javi Garcia showed arguments to aniquilate the habilities of some green players like Moutinho, Veloso and Liedson.

After the game Jorge Jesus noticed that SLB had won this game because the team was able to mantain a candidate to the title on a considerable distance. Nevertheless, this will only became a reality if, J. Jesus be able to keep the good team perfomances and of course with good results.

When a high level game like this occurs it is needed to observe two aspects: the pitch and the visitant fans. A Stadium like this one of Alvade deserved a better pitch. The grass was not at the level of the stars and when it is show everyone looses. On the second aspect, about the fans, it is sad to watch more than 1600 young red people treated so badly until they arrive the stadium. In Portugal laws are created to allow, that animals, have to be transported in better conditions. Those 1600 football lovers payed a lot to see the game and deserved better treatment. More sun and more police are for sure not the solution.

When the team can’t win a game, the better thing they can do is: NOT loosing it.

Millennium Cup: Sport Lisboa e Benfica 0-1 Vitória Sport Clube‏

Last Sunday, SL Benfica, was beaten by the team of Guimarães, for the Portuguese Cup.

The possibility of winning the second most important trophy in Portugal, on the present season, vanished last weekend with a defeat from Benfica at Estadio da Luz. The team of Vitória Sport Clube, came to our place and took us away the possibility of accessing Jamor (Final). Paulo Sérgio appeared in Luz with a dynamic team and with guts to win the eliminatory. Players like Nuno Assis, Desmarets, Sereno and the goalkeeper Nilson were in good plan, destroying the creativity of the reds. A lonely goal obtained on a corner kick, by Gustavo Lazzaretti was more than sufficient to give the victory to northern team.

The lack of ideas of the eagle players was in evidence, and the team tried hard, but the goal did not appeared. A poor first half, from the reds demonstrates that not all the games can be resolved on the second part. Players like Moreira, Sidney and Keirrison could have done better, to grab the opportunity given by J. Jesus, but when the rest of the team does not help, things become harder.

A player that wants to demonstrate his value and conquer his space on the team is Felipe Menezes. The young Brazilian played few minutes on this Cup game, but demonstrated once more good qualities that may be useful on a near future.

Game Info:

Stadium: Estádio da Luz – Attendance: 25 000 spectators

Referee: Elmano Santos (Madeira island)

SL Benfica: Moreira, Rúben Amorim (F. Menezes 84'), Sidnei, David Luiz, Fábio Coentrão, Javi Garcia, Ramires, Di Maria, Aimar (Weldon 67'), Saviola, Keirrison (N. Gomes 80').
Coach: Jorge Jesus.

Vitória Sport Clube (Guimarães): Nilson, Andrezinho, Lazzaretti, Moreno, Sereno (Milhazes 69’), Custódio (Alex 80’), Flávio Meireles, João Alves (Douglas 90’), Desmarets, Nuno Assis, Targino.
Coach: Paulo Sérgio.

Goals: 0-1 Lazzaretti (25’).

Robert Enke

SL Benfica traveled to Açores islands to dispute and win, against Clube Desportivo Santa Clara, the Pauleta’s Trophy. The result was a one goal draw at the end of the 90’. Two of the best players from the Eagles in action were Keirrison who scored the goal in the regulamentary time (35’) and, Jean Silva who scored also with success the last of the 5 penalties.

What better way can be done to demonstrate and elogiate the qualities of a player than a football game. That is precisely what hapened with the portuguese player Pauleta in the last Friday night game and will for sure occur in the Portuguese Cup game coming next where SLB will face Vitória SC (Guimarães) and Robert Enke, who tragiclay died recently, will be remembered.

One week ago, the world football become more poor, Robert Enke died. A train took his life near Hanôver. A possible suicide was annouced by the police. Near friends and family also confirm that possibility.

Enke was born on the 24 August 1977, in Jena. He played for the local team Jena Pharm, then in FC Carl Zeiss. He was representing Borussia VFL 1900 Monchengladbach when SL Benfica decided to sign him.

When R. Enke arrives to Luz, in 1999, he was already the Under-21 goalkeeper of his nation. Robert’s task wasn’t easy he had to do better than Bossio and to try to make the fans forget the Belgian Michael Preud’Homme. Neverthless, he reached the titularity of the reds main team and cativated the public, although the Club was on a results crisis, and on that years the reds were far from obtaining trophies.

Enke is still remembered by his kindness and the Portuguese coach Toni still remembers the abondoned dogs Enke frequently took to his place. A very disciplinated player that could and should have had a different life. Unfortunately to him and to the ones near him things weren’t easy. The Turkish experience in Fenerbahce was so bad that he only played a game. Even, before that, when he left SLB, to sign with Barcelona FC and all the newspapers were after him, things didn’t smiled to him as expected.

The return to Germany in 2oo4, after CD Tenerife, to assume the Hannover 1896 nets, was very positive to his career and he had a new oportunity in his hands to prove his true value. He grabed that chance and reached later in 2oo7 also to the National Team. The access to the German shirt was difficult because of two other big goalkeepers, Kahn and Lehmann.

Health problems were prejudicial to Robert Enke and also to his daughter, who had died ealier. The question Why (Warum?) apears, more than to ask why that train robbed his life, to ask Why can life be, sometimes, so unfair?

http://www.hannover96.de/CDA/top-stories/robert-enke-youtube-fanvideos.html

Liga Sagres: Sport Lisboa e Benfica 1-0 Associação Naval 1º de Maio

Walls do come down.

Yesterday was celebrated the anniversary of the Berlin's wall fall. The majority of the people present on that moment think that it took too much time, near 30 years, to fall down. To commemorate the reunification of the West and Eastern Germanys in 1989, was produced an event watched all over the world, where pieces of Domino fell down. Well, also yesterday our team SL Benfica played for the Portuguese League and the difficulties faced were so much that it seemed that the Eagles were playing against a wall. The similarity of the Berlin wall and the Naval wall cannot be made in terms of suffering, but one thing is coincident, both walls took too long to fall.

Last night, Benfica received the team of Naval, coming from Figueira da Foz. The visitant team disposition proportionate almost 90 minutes of game in only one side of the pitch. The away team coach A. Inácio, probably to honour the Berlin event, told his players to defend with all their forces. The strategy delineated made that the almost every players of Naval hardly passed midfield. When a counter attack occurred only two or three players expected to score benefiting from some mistake of the red defenders.

When a game has this type of characteristics and we do not see many goals, there are only two reasons possible. The first is that the red players are inefficient and the other is that the defenders were much better than our attackers. I frankly believe that this last hypotheses is the most correct and the public also in Luz, more than 40 000 spectators, probably would agree. A strong factor called Peiser, the goalkeeper of Naval avoided the success of the Benfica players for several times. A tremendous actuation from the French goalkeeper almost guaranteed the success of his coach and team. The red players felt on their legs the European game played on the middle of the week before, nevertheless they had plenty of good opportunities to score, unfortunately to us only one, break the wall, but it was worth it. It was almost at the end of the game, 89', when J. Garcia scored a great goal, responding positively with his head to a cross from a free kick marked on the left.

Maxi Pereira told the Press, that they the team needs to get used to difficult victories, like this one against A. Naval 1º Maio. Probably many other teams that will visit Benfica will play like that. We need to adapt to that kind of posture.

Rúben Amorim and Di Maria are two players who were evidently with "low batteries" yesterday. It is strange to say, but they were tired, for a good reason. They made a brilliant game in Liverpool, last Thursday against Everton FC. This two young players, with the rest of their companions, made a very good exhibition which allowed an important victory. Their performance in Goodison Park was so good that they took all the possibilities, of the English team to reach a positive result. Everyone knows that the games of the Portuguese teams in England are not easy and the European home games of the Toffees , are always very difficult to the visitors. It is needed to say that the goalkeepers from both sides, Tim Howard the USA Squad goalkeeper and the Brazilien Júlio César, made a good job. Saviola and Oscar Cardoza scored the two red goals and silenced Goodison Park.

As always the British remembered and honoured our "Black Panther". Eusébio went to the middle of the pitch before the beginning of the game and received a deserved gift from the Everton FC people. A return to a stadium where he scored 6 goals in the 1966 World Cup tournament representing Portugal and where he would have faced England in the semi-finals but the Football Association decided to switch the game to Wembley at the last minute. It is good to know that the star he was, is still remembered by the ones who had the opportunity and the pleasure of seeing him playing in the land of the Beatles.

Europa League: Everton Football Club vs Sport Lisboa e Benfica

Benfica’s team got the plane, yesterday morning, to UK. After the flight the team took contact with Liverpool, adapted to the Goodison Park pitch and concentrated on a local Hotel.

Today Benfica in a very difficult game against Everton FC on Goodison Park, a Stadium built in 1892 (+ 40,000 spectators), has the opportunity to keep the first group position and give a big step into the next phase. The Europa League game is creating enormous expectations in England, this because the Toffees want to demonstrate that the result obtained by the reds a few days ago, was just an accident. An historical result like that is not obtained on every game, so the time to the Everton players demonstrate that the Lisbon result was totally unfair is reached. Benfica wants on the other hand to control the game and most important of all to gain points.

The historical Everton Football Club was formed in 1878. The St Domingo Methodist Church Sunday School was opened in May 1870 and eight years later the football team using the St Domingo name played its first match in the south-east corner of Stanley Park, with the players carrying the posts from the park lodge on Mill Lane before fixing them into the metal sockets at either end of the crudely marked pitch. St Domingo's FC quickly established a local reputation for them selves and players were recruited from outside of the parish, precipitating a change of name in November 1879 - to EVERTON. Many relevant players took part of the Everton’s history, like for instance Lineker.

Jorge Jesus thinks a draw maybe positive but Benfica will play for the victory. Some journalists asked J. Jesus if he was worried about the fact of on the games SLB did not won Benfica suffered earlier. Jesus”We are not worried with that fact. That is only statistic numbers.” The reds coach thinks that what really matters is the work the team develops.

David Moyes Everton’s coach, that won’t be able to count with John Heitinga and Lucas Neill. L. Saha is also in doubt, told the Press that they don’t want to use the word revenge but it’s is true that their pride is in stake. The defeat in Lisbon, Everton's heaviest loss in UEFA club competition, still hurts.

“We are going to get a good result. Nevertheless a point would not be a bad thing the way the group is going.” “The key is to qualify, that's our objective tomorrow. But we have to play much better than we did in Lisbon.”

The Toffees midfielder Jack Rodwell believes that Everton FC can do better on tonight’s game:
“We want to prove that we are the better team on this group and has I expect the most strong on the competition. Nothing is decided yet. We need to win the next game and hopefully confirm the achievement to the next stage. Some important players recovered and will be able to play so will be better this time.”

Sport Lisboa e Benfica

Goalkeepers: Quim, Moreira, Júlio César;

Defenders: Maxi Pereira, Sidnei, David Luiz, Luisão, Shaffer;

Midfielders: Javi García, Ramires, R. Amorim, Coentrão, Di María, Felipe Menezes, Aimar; Forwards: Nuno Gomes, Weldon, Saviola, Cardozo and Keirrison;

Coach: Jorge Jesus.

Everton Football Club

Goalkeepers: Tim Howard, Carlo Nash;

Defenders: Tony Hibbert, Sylvain Distin, Joseph Yobo, Leighton Baines, Seamus Coleman, Shane Duffy;

Midfielders: Dan Gosling, Jack Rodwell, Marouane Fellaini, Hope Akpan, James Wallace, Tim Cahill;

Forwards: Jô, Louis Saha, Jose Baxter, Kieran Agard and Ayegbeni Yakubu;

Coach: David Moyes

Referee

Said Ennjimi (FRA)

Assistant referee

Frédéric Cano (FRA) Djemel Zitouni (FRA)

Additional assistant referee

Hervé Piccirillo (FRA) Ruddy Buquet (FRA)Fourth official Didier Falcone (FRA)

Liga Sagres: Sporting Clube de Braga 2-0 Sport Lisboa e Benfica

SL Benfica lost several things in the city of Braga.

Last Saturday night Benfica went to Braga to play against the local team, SC Braga. The city was lived the day with an tremendous excitation, this because in Braga many local citizens are Benfica lovers. Both clubs are identified with the red colours, so the city was all dressed in that same colour. In addition to that both Clubs were with the same 22 points in the top of the Portuguese Football League.

The game started well for the home team and they scored soon by Hugo Viana (7') on a direct free kick shot. The public was enthusiastic but Benfica reacted well and could have reached the goal when Ramires missed a chance facing the goalkeeper Eduardo. SL Benfica missed some chances to score and one from Luisão that went into the Braga nets was invalidated by the referee. When the first half was finishing a ball went to the bench of Braga and when Di Maria tried to catch it heard some insults and replied sending the ball back. Nothing strange in a mans game but the worse was yet to come: The referee Jorge Sousa, one of the best nowadays working in Portugal, decided to end the 1st half, but could not imagine that the players of both team would be involved in the tunnel.

On the break time Benfica starts precisely on that moment to loose something more. Initially Cardozo was beaten in front of everyone and also in front of the cameras before entering the Tunnel. Some people say that he was again beaten on the tunnel that gives access to the dressing rooms, but this time by securities. It is strange because these professionals are paid to protect the integrity of the persons present on the Stadium and above all of the players. Well, the result is easy to understand, Leone (SCB) and Óscar Cardozo saw the red Card. Yes, the best scorer of the Portuguese League did not have the chance to return and show his abilities.

On the second half Benfica tried to reach the Braga nets but their defensive, the best until now of the Liga Sagres, was stronger. Players like Hugo Viana, Alan and João Pereira made a tremendous game for the locals and demonstrated that they deserved to win that game. This last player João Pereira is well known of the Benfica followers because he won the last Championship for Benfica when Giovanni Trapattoni was our Coach (2004/05).

Braga defeat well our team, now that we lost the game, lost Cardozo and lost the possibility of being alone on the first place, let's try to avoid loosing more players on the Tunnels. Strangely that Tunnel disagreements had also happened before on the game against CD Nacional.

We may have lost some important things in Braga, but we will all football lovers pray to the Portuguese League 2009/10 be decided on the pitch by the stars, the players, and not on some other places and by some other intervenient.

Liga Sagres: Sport Lisboa e Benfica 6-1 Clube Desportivo Nacional‏

Luz 2oo3

Two pleasant wins with lots of goals, one last night for the Portuguese Liga Sagres and the other one last Thursday for the Uefa Europa League competition.

Yesterday SL Benfica received and won CD Nacional. It was a night of feast and joy, to begin, the celebrations of the anniversary of the Estádio da Luz. The six years of age had been precisely on the day before, Sunday but, the Club celebrated precisely on the Liga Sagres game with all the Club owners that mean us all Benfiquistas. Of course not all Benfica lovers can dislocate them selves every week to see our SLB playing but last night at least 47011 had that chance. To help the commemorations Benfica players gave all they could to win the home game against the Madeira Island team and, were able to obtain the 3 points.

Jorge Jesus knew that things would not be simple. In fact Nacional has robbed us some points on previous seasons and wanted to make it again. So Benfica’s coach J. Jesus delineated a scheme that allowed him to make what he wanted with the CD Nacional team. But things were also difficult, principally on the first half where the quality of some Nacional players, like Rúben Micael, appeared. On the second half Benfica showed the superiority inside the field and the result become on a five goals difference. Nacional from Madeira demonstrated on this game that has a good team but also fragilities and some the lack of experience, similar to their performance, on the Uefa Europa League. CD Nacional is playing very well on the Europa League but unfortunately for them the results are not as they wanted.

The red goals were obtained by: 1-0 Cardozo (17’), 2-1 Saviola (40’), 3-1 Cardozo (49’), 4-1 Saviola (63’), 5-1 Nuno Gomes (86’), 6-1 Cardozo (92’).

Also an important consideration to make is about the northern referee’s team (Vasco Santos), with two relevant mistakes committed: an irregular goal by E. Costa (27’) for CD National validated and an inexistent penalty marked for SLB. The penalization of this minor work was for both teams and also for the public that is becoming tired of so many errors.

On a fantastic and historical European night Benfica defeated the English team Everton FC. When the first half finished with a lonely goal from Saviola (14’) few believed that the reds would became the winners with a five goals difference. But in fact it happened; the earlier goals from Cardozo (47’ and 48’) on the second part of the game helped the destruction of the English strategy. The other goals were scored by Luisão (52’) and again by Saviola (83’). Some important toffee players missed that Europa League game, one of those was precisely their Captain Phil Neville that told the Press that the game in England would be different and that he is sure that the Everton will do everything to win that game.

For the Portuguese Cup Millennium the reds knew today that we will play against Vitória SC (Guimarães).

The Portuguese Cup competition draws, to be played on 22nd Novenber, is listed below.

FC Tirsense – FC Paços Ferreira

GD Pescadores C Caparica – Sporting CP

Rio Ave FC – CD Santa Clara

CD Nacional – CD Fátima

UD Oliveirense - FC Porto

GD. Chaves - UD Serra

A Naval 1º Maio - Gil Vicente FC
SC Freamunde - UD Leiria

Aliados FC Lordelo - Leixões SC

SC Braga – Vitória FC (Setúbal)

SL Benfica – Vitória SC (Guimarães)

A. Académica Coimbra – SC Beira Mar

AD Camacha - GR Vigor Mocidade

AD Oeiras – CD Pinhalnovense
SC Valenciano – CF Os Belenenses

Vieira SC or CD Mafra – CF União

Europa League: Sport Lisboa e Benfica vs Everton Football Club

Everton FC visits Lisbon and, plays later against SL Benfica. After the draw 1-1 obtained against Wolves (Wolverhampton) the Toffees bring to Luz 5000 fans. The Liverpool team came to Portugal without some players like Joseph Yobo and Steven Pienaar. Also injured are the club captain Phil Neville and the defender Phil Jagielka but those two players flew with the rest of the team.

Benfica won’t be able to count with Keirrison, Schaffer and L. Filipe, nevertheless Jorge Jesus told the Press that SLB will do everything to win the game and considers that the team is on a top level force.

“Everton FC is a strong team, with quality players especially on attack. Everton is a typical British team that normally uses direct football, with crosses into the area.”

“Everton is practically into next phase, so the discussion will basically be between SLB and AEK”.

J. Jesus considers also that this game is not fundamental for the reds, although a victory would be important to help our team go on into the next stage.

Sport Lisboa e Benfica

Goalkeepers: Quim, Júlio César;

Defenders: Luisão, David Luiz, Maxi Pereira, Sidnei, César Peixoto;

Midfielders: Javi García, Carlos Martins, Fábio Coentrão, Felipe Menezes, Di María, Rúben Amorim, Ramires, Aimar;

Forwards: Saviola, Nuno Gomes, Weldon, Óscar Cardozo;

Coach: Jorge Jesus.

Everton Football Club

Goalkeepers: Tim Howard, Carlo Nash;

Defenders: Tony Hibbert, Sylvain Distin, Leighton Baines, Seamus Coleman, Shane Duffy, Hope Akpan;

Midfielders: Dan Gosling, Leon Osman, Jack Rodwell, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Tim Cahill;

Forwards: Jô, Louis Saha, Ayegbeni Yakubu, Marouane Fellaini, James Wallace;

Coach: David Moyes

Referee

Nikolay Ivanov (RUS)

Assistant referee

Nikolai Golubev (RUS) Viacheslav Semenov (RUS)

Additional assistant referee

Vladislav Bezborodov (RUS) Vladimir Pettay (RUS)

Fourth official

Alexander Gvardis (RUS)

Millennium Cup: Grupo Desportivo e Recreativo de Monsanto 0-6 Sport Lisboa e Benfica

For the Millennium Cup, the team Grupo Desportivo e Recreativo de Monsanto received this weekend our SLB. Instead of playing the game on their pitch called Campo do Pião, they decided to dispute the game on the stadium Dr. António Alves Vieira. The decision became in fact positive because Monsanto is a little village and the Stadium chosen located in Torres Novas had better conditions to play and also to be seen by the public.

One of the main advantages of this competition is allowing that players from Clubs like Monsanto playing on secondary leagues have the opportunity of probably making the game of their life. Many of those men have other jobs, so when this occurs normally a celebration is prepared and that’s precisely what happened with those persons located on the centre of Portugal. The festivities took place in Monsanto and in Torres Novas and the fans of both Clubs ate and drunk in great co fraternization.

Obviously the most important to the reds was the magnificent result, six goals obtained without response. But things were not as easy as they seem and the lonely goal of the 1st half scored by Felipe Menezes on the 29’ confirms precisely that. The Benfica team who returned from the dressing rooms was completely different in attitude and five more goals were obtained. Two of those goals belonged to Carlos Martins. Saviola and César Peixoto scored each other one goal. The last goal was from Fábio Coentrão just before the end of the game. Jorge Jesus gave the opportunity to Moreira keep the nets and also to Mantorras play some minutes, fact that gave much enthusiasm to the red fans present. In evidence, besides C. Martins with his goals and Nuno Gomes who was the Captain, was Fábio Coentrão who scored his first official season goal.

Game Info:

Stadium: Dr. Alves Vieira in Torres Novas

Referee: Paulo Costa (O’Porto).

GDR MONSANTO: René; Ruas, Filipe, Bá and Ito; Bruno Matos, João Martins, Gutty (Bruno, 62m) and Dani; Jamerson (Júlio, 81m) and Carlitos (Alex, 62m).

Bench: Nuno Martins, Marçal, Figa and Alexgol.

Coach: Vítor Alves.

SL BENFICA: Moreira; César Peixoto, David Luiz, Sidnei and Ruben Amorim; Javi Garcia, Fábio Coentrão, Felipe Menezes (Saviola, 62m) and Carlos Martins; Nuno Gomes (Mantorras, 68m) and Weldon (Miguel Vítor, 75m).

Bench: Quim, Maxi Pereira, Di María and Urreta.
Coach: Jorge Jesus.

Goals: 0-1, Felipe Menezes (29m); 0-2, Carlos Martins (46m); 0-3, Carlos Martins (59m); 0-4, Saviola (84m); 0-5, César Peixoto (88m); 0-6, Fábio Coentrão (90+1m).

Fábio Alexandre da Silva Coentrão (1988/03/11)

Fábio is natural of Vila do Conde where he was born on March 1988. The Youth Teams of Rio Ave FC made Coentrão the player he is today. Gave him the possibility of achieve the first Rio Ave team in 2oo5. Fábio’s first game on the first league was against Braga when he was only 17th years old. He represented the hometown Club Rio Ave FC from 2004 until 2007 and played so well that called the attention of many Sport Press and International Clubs. During this period his Club participated on the first Portuguese league and on the secondary league also.

The Fifa Under20 World Cup in Canada (2007/06/30 - 2007/07/22) gave him the opportunity to represent Portugal colours. The winger signed contract with the reds on the summer of 2007, but few chances had to show is real value and the result was a loan on January to the Madeira Island team Clube Desportivo Nacional, where he stayed until the end of the season. After his passage for Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. and again for Rio Ave FC he has now an important chance to demonstrate his real value.

Fábio returned to SLB more experience and mature. The result of the work he developed along this time, away from Luz, made him grew up as a man and as a footballer. Perhaps he might become a better player and if well protected, who knows, maybe a world star.

Coentrão likes to see Cristiano Ronaldo play football and enjoyed a lot the way he was received in Santiago Bernabeu. Another great Portuguese player makes part of his life somehow, this because Coentrão was several times called as “Figo of Caxinas”. Caxinas is the local in Vila do Conde where he grew up and Figo because of the player Luís Figo.

F. Coentrão is a great winger who prefers the left side. The velocity and his technical abilities represent two main characteristics. A severe danger to the opponent defences. He surely fascinates the spectators.

The red left winger has the dream of having a boat. He and his brothers always loved the sea, in fact, his father, now retired, was for many years a fisherman. When Fábio goes to the market he easily identifies the fishes. Probably he inherits the courage of the fisherman, passed from his father to him. He feels that in a way or in another the nets take part of his life.

One thing is certain the young Fábio Coentrão loving the ball as he loves the sea has a majestic future in front of him.

Liga Sagres: Futebol Clube Paços de Ferreira 1-3 Sport Lisboa e Benfica

Two different games got two different results.

The Greece visit to play against AEK Athens FC confirmed that the European away games can be a problem to our team. It is true that these kinds of games don’t seem to bother, but it is also true that a defeat is always a defeat. This Greek team showed that it was accessible and we could have brought some points from Athens.

On the other hand Benfica returned to the Portuguese League and returned to victories. In fact, it was a great victory, on a hard game, against FC Paços de Ferreira. A team always tuff principally when they play at home. The earlier goal scored by David Luiz proved that when work is done things become easier. With two more goals, one from Carlos Martins that reappeared well after being injured and the other one from the Paraguayan player Cardozo, SLB reached the end of the first half comfortably. Only a well organized Benfica with lots of concentration to gain balls and spaces on the opponent defensive. The pressure our team did was more than sufficient to enervate Paços de Ferreira team and for consequence making their players committing errors. The Brazilian defense Maycon scored for Paços on the 67’ but it was late to change things.

Without some international players Jorge Jesus got an important away victory and also a good performance of other team players and that’s what really counts.

Uefa Europa League: AEK Athens FC - Sport Lisboa e Benfica‏

Tonight Benfica visits AEK on the second game of the Europa League group phase.

SL Benfica will be received tonight at the OACA Spiros Louis Stadium. This Stadium makes part of the Olympic Complex. The architect Santiago Kalatrava improved and harmonized the Olympic Sports Complex for the Olympic Games in 2004. Calatrava’s master plan and architectural interventions have established a central pedestrian axis, with clearly marked entrances; created a sense of place by developing a landscape Common Domain. To have a project signed by this great Spanish engineer is without any doubt a great honor.

The team of AEK Athens FC was founded in 13 April 1924 and is based in Athens, capital of Greece. The Club was created by a group of refugees of Constantinople, who wanted to provide athletic and cultural diversions for them and also for the Anatolian refugees. Several Athletes took part on the Club’s foundation. The place of that important moment was a shop belonging to Emilios and Menelaos Ionas on Veranzerou Street, in the center of the city. Along the vast history the team of AEK Athens FC won many Titles, such as eleven Greek Championships, thirteen Greek Cups, one League Cup and three Super Cups.


Two players, well known for the reds, are the Portuguese Geraldo Alves and the twenty nine years old Brazilian, Gustavo Manduca. Both represented our Club and play now for AEK Athens grabbing the opportunity the Greek Club gave them.


The AEK's Coach, Dušan Bajević, came from Yugoslavia to command AEK Athens FC. He was the Helenic Club’s striker during four years, where he won the Greek titles in 1978 and 1979. Dušan Bajević told the Press that he had the tactic to defeat Benfica and that after the last weekend loss against Panathinaikos, the team needed a new beggining.


To the Press Jesus told that if the team wins the game it will be important to go on to the next stage. Also David Luiz said that the team is ready to the game and that the team will apply all the energies to get the 3 points.


Jorge Jesus takes 22 players to Athens: Moreira, Júlio César, Quim, Miguel Vítor, Luisão, David Luiz, César Peixoto, Maxi Pereira, Sidnei, Rúben Amorim, Javi García, Aimar, Ramires, Fábio Coentrão, Di María, Felipe Menezes, Carlos Martins, Cardozo, Keirrison, Weldon, Nuno Gomes and Saviola.


Referee
Stefan Johannesson (SWE)
Assistant referee
Mathias Klasenius (SWE) Joakim Flink (SWE)
Additional assistant referee
Markus Strömbergsson (SWE) Ake Andreasson (SWE)
Fourth official
Johan Hamlin (SWE)
UEFA Delegate
Fernand Meese (BEL)
UEFA Referee observer
Stefan Ormandjiev (BUL)

Liga Sagres: Sport Lisboa e Benfica 5-0 Leixões Sport Club‏

It seems that this Sport Lisboa e Benfica came out of a Fairy Tail.

The extraordinary results obtained by our Glorious team don’t seem to end. It looks like we Benfiquistas are in a fictional fantasy where Jorge Jesus is the Magician that transformed the red players, allowing them to perform amazing acts. On a weekend dominated by the election of the Portuguese Prime Minister, Benfica decided to occupy again the newspapers headlines. The five goals victory achieved against Leixões Sport Club caused the positive impact on the Press.

Some people say that the ones who speak Spanish or Castilian on the team are the responsible for the positive results. Like for instance Aimar, Saviola, Di Maria, Maxi Pereira, Javi Garcia and Cardozo. This last one, Cardozo, started so well the current season, that is already one of the best strikers on Europe, this on what respects to goals scored. The truth is that Tacuara is talked on the news like Fernando Torres or Antonio Di Natale concerning the goals they scored. Óscar Cardozo, known also as Tacuara scored twice on this last game and not all the goals obtained until now were on penalty shots. The fantastic header on his second goal against the team of Matosinhos is the proof of that.

Others say that the Portuguese language is fundamental on the team and that players like Nuno Gomes (Captain), Fábio Coentrão, Ruben Amorim or Quim make the difference. Finally the ones who also believe in Portuguese language but with some Brazilian pronounce. On that chapter the protagonists are Luisão, Ramires and David Luis. The Brazilian defenders make what they are asked to and always they can, help the forwarders scoring, principally on free and corner kicks. The team of Leixões came to Luz Stadium knowing that this could happen and they did their best to avoid it. Things were not going very bad to the men oriented by José Mota, on the first half, although the goal suffered and the ingenuity of Pouga had originated a second yellow card and the respective sanction. Aimar was missing many passes fortunately he made the brilliant cross to David Luiz head. With the second half appeared a better organized Benfica and the faults committed by the opponent players only helped our team to play the type of football Jesus likes. The result of so many faults was another expulsion and this time of Nuno Silva, who was being in our opinion one of the best players on the game. The goals from Cardozo, Maxi Pereira and Ramires came naturally and there was nothing Zé Manuel whe entered on the Matosinhos team could do. Zé Manuel celebrated, on Saturday night, his participation on 250 Portuguese League games.

More than 40000 spectators saw the game against Leixões, probably among them was the new red fan number 200 000. Let's reach the 300 000!

Liga Sagres: União Desportiva de Leiria 1-2 Sport Lisboa e Benfica‏

Portuguese Football is about referees.

The referees who should be small intervenient on a big show became the big game protagonists. While other Europe Countries talk about Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, Kaká, Ibrahimovic, Ribéry, Kiessling, Ozil, Zé Roberto, Diego, Ronaldinho, Luís Fabiano, Nani, Rooney, Fernando Torres, Drogba, Fàbregas, Lisandro, Giuly, Niang and so much others, referees are talked about here in Portugal. It’s not difficult to understand why? That’s because there are to many interests around the games.

Measures are being awaited for a long time, but few have been done until now. We all know that things aren’t easy to change. But occurring these situations every weekend are a bit too much. The Champion of a European League can’t be chosen and decided on the backstage.

Benfica won the international home game. Benfica beat BATE Borisov on Luz stadium last week. Two null was the final result and our Captain Nuno Gomes played very well, scoring a great goal. Cardozo scored the other goal and helped Benfica entering with the right foot on the group phase. The new referees system was positive in a global way and expected rapidly on our National League, Sagres.

Now is finally time to talk about the quality of the players and not about the simulations they eventually made or the fault they may have not committed. Portuguese Liga Sagres returned this weekend and a victory smiled for the reds. The difficult Leiria team almost robbed us points that can be important.

The Leiria team is well oriented by the very experienced old football player Manuel Fernandes. Players like Panandétiguiri, Ricardo Pateiro and Silas did a very good game and are very preponderant on Leiria’s team. On the other side was our team with some alterations on the initial line up. Jesus had already introduced on the European game against BATE players like Júlio César and Felipe Menezes, now in Leiria was the moment of Keirrison. These players may be crucial on the Benfica’s future and that’s precisely on what Jesus is thinking. Cardozo scored a goal on a penalty shoot and earlier Saviola had responded with a fantastic goal to a cross from is companion Pablo Aimar.

On the first round of the Portuguese Millenium Cup, Benfica will play against Grupo Desportivo e Recreativo de Monsanto. The visit to Monsanto must occur on the eighteen of October.

Uefa Europa League » Group Stage starts today‏

The Group Stage from the new Uefa’s competition will start today and some innovations will be introduced.

Sport Lisboa e Benfica will receive in Luz Stadium the Belarusian team FC BATE Borisov. The tonight game will have more referees than the usual and that because the IFAB (International Football Association Board) introduced some alterations. The public wanted more veracity on the referee judgments and IFAB responded with the introduction of two more referees on all the Europa League phase Group games.

So, the four referees (Referee, 2 Assistants, and the observer) will be complemented with two more assistant referees. These two new assistants will occupy the positions alongside each goal. Their positions will be on the opposite side of the goal from the actual assistants.

The new referee assistant won’t have a flag they, will help the main referee using radio communication or a vibrating system. The additional assistant referees will be able to enter the pitch if necessary. Formation was given to almost one hundred elements. On this training occurred in Nyon, Switzerland, was present the Referee Commission President of the Portuguese Football League, Vitor Pereira and also the referees Bruno Paixão and Jorge Sousa that will participate in same matches.

The IFAB Association was created in 1886 and is composed of The Football Association (England), The Scottish Football Association, The Football Association of Wales, The Irish Football Association (Northern Ireland) and finally with high importance FIFA.

Jorge Jesus to the Press

The reds coach already alerted the fans to the difficulties that might appear and that not all the games can be won with so many goals, as the last two games of the Portuguese League.

“The team is fine if we look at the results, but it still has much to grow. The game against BATE will be the first of the Group Phase where we want to go on through. We will try to reach the victory, because points do count, but to do that we will need to be at same level as we were in the last games.”

About the Belarusian team he said:

“It is a team Tactical Disciplined that goes rapidly on Counter-Attack and is very tuff defensively.”

Viktor Goncharenko to the Press:

The coach from BATE Borisov, Viktor Goncharenko, that won’t be able to be seated on the bench because he has been suspended, said that a draw would be a nice result.

“Benfica has strong Attack and Deffense. We like to win but we consider a draw here a good result.”

The BATE elements are also pleased for being playing in Luz Stadium.

“We are very happy to be able to play in this great stadium. We would like to play more in cenarious like this one.”

Uefa Europa League » Goup I:
Sport Lisboa e Benfica - FC BATE Borisov (20:05 Local Time)

Everton FC – AEK Athens FC

Sport Lisboa e Benfica

Goalkeepers: Moreira and Júlio César;

Defenders: Shaffer, Luisão, Maxi Pereira, David Luiz, César Peixoto and Sidnei;

Midfileders: Rúben Amorim, Javi García, Ramires, Fábio Coentrão, Felipe Menezes and Di Maria;

Forwards: Cardozo, Keirrison, Nuno Gomes and Saviola;

Coach: Jorge Jesus.

Futbolniy Klub Borisov Works of Automobile and Tractor Electronic Equipment

Goalkeepers: Sergei Veremko and Dmytro Ivanov;

Defenders: Sergei Sosnovski, Igor Shitov, Aleksandr Yurevich, Artyom Radkov, Maksim Bordachov and Vladimir Rzhevski;

Midfileders: Dmitri Likhtarovich, Aleksandr Volodko, Sergei Krivets, Aleksandr Pavlov, Igor Stasevich, Mikhail Kravchuk and Maksim Volodko;

Forwards: Vitali Bulyga, Aleksandr Alumona, Vitali Rodionov and Hovannes Goaryan.

Coach: Viktor Goncharenko.

Referee Knut Kircher (GER)

Stadium: Luz

Liga Sagres: Clube de Futebol «Os Belenenses» 0-4 Sport Lisboa e Benfica‏

Jesus knew perfectly well what to do in Belém to win the game and obtained an amazing victory.

The Stadium of the team Clube de Futebol - «Os Belenenses» is located in Restelo.This beautifull side of Lisbon agregates one of the best neighbourhoods of the city, Restelo and also the most important Turistic part, Belém. On Restelo we can find expensive and marvellous houses, many belonging to embaixes. Belém has at least three Lisbon top Monuments, Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, Torre de Belém and the Padrão dos Descobrimentos. All these monuments are somehow related with the Portuguese discoveries made arround the world through the seas. In Belém we can also find Centro Cultural de Belém, museums and the Tippical and delicious cake “Pastel de Belém”.

It is an usual joke, to say that when a team plays in the Stadium of Belenenses and suffers goals that is taking home Pasteis, that famous cake. Well this time the fortune smiled to Benfica and we won the game with four goals without response. But not everything was bad to the responsables of Belenenses, the Benfica fans that wanted to see the game in loco helped financially a lot buying the majoroty of the tickets.

Benfica entered strong on the game and soon scored. A tremendous run from Javier Saviola, passing by the Beleneses deffenders and keeper like if it was easy. A goal to be seen by all the football lovers arround the globe. Some other opportunities were created without success having at the same time a solid deffense. Talking about the deffense it’s necessary to congratulate Maxi Pereira for his return, on the second half, after being injured. This second 45 minutes were marked for the goals scored, three on total. Initially by Cardozo, secondly by J. Garcia and the last one by Ramires. Ramires is presently one of the most important players of the team, not only for the fact that he is scoring goals but also because he consolidates the team. Ramires is the kind of player that makes what the coach wants and is able to superate all expectations. He works harder than what is expected and the result is positive for the group. The great players are difficult to identify inside the lines, they do what they are asked to and even more and when they do that they don’t compromize the team.

Ramires Santos do Nascimento (1987 /03/24)

Ramires is natural from Barra do Piraí, Brazil.He was discovered while he represented Joinville Esporte Clube where he played until 2oo7. Cruzeiro Esporte Clube bought his Pass on that year and soon he gained his place on the team. Ramires plays rapidly being very resistent. He is very good technically. Shots easily and recovers many balls passing them also quite well. He represented Brazil on the Olympic Games obtaining the Bronze Medal. On that tournament he had players on the Brazilian team like Pato (AC Milan), Ronaldinho (AC Milan), Diego (Juventus FC) and Alex Silva (Hamburger SV) Luisão’s brother. Ramires won the Championship Mineiro 2oo8/o9 and the Silver Ball given by the Placar Magazine in 2oo8. This prize his given to players who have been avaliated by the Placar Magazine Reporters that are presented in all the games from Brasileirão. More recently he represented Brazil and won the Confederations Cup that took place in South Africa.

http://www.jec.com.br/
http://www.cruzeiro.com.br/
http://www.ramires.tk/

Jesus, Benfica’s coach is doing what the Club needed. Everyone is conscient that nothing is won and that much needs to be done. The reds coach is putting every players working and saying this should not be considered depreciative to the work done until now. The fact is that they are football players professional and Jorge Jesus wants them “breading” football and if they fell asleep they should be dreaming with the ball and positions on the field. For instance video of football games, eveybody watch, but the motivation to watch them are different mabybe because each player understands perfectly well what is expected from him.

Liga Sagres SL Benfica 8-1 Vitória Futebol Clube

SL Benfica returned to “Glorious days”. A brilliant performance from the team orientated by Jorge Jesus allowed that, what seemed to be a difficult game was transformed on, an easy one.

Quim, Shaffer, Luisão (21’), David Luiz, Ruben Amorim, Javi García (16’), Ramires (37’), Pablo Aimar (35’), Ángel Di María, Óscar Cardozo (29’, 65’, 75’) and Javier Saviola. The following players entered on the second half: Fábio Coentrão, César Peixoto and Nuno Gomes (85’).

After the international away defeat, against Poltava, Luz received the men who will for sure be remembered for many years. I say that because many of us still remember the last victory with the exact same final result. It was on the first season of Mister Eriksson as Benfica’s coach. The forward Nené scored 5 goals on that 14th May 1983. On that season, 1982/83, Benfica become the Portuguese Champion. Great players represented SLB, like for instance, Bento, Malta da Silva, Humberto Coelho, Toni, Bastos Lopes, Messias, Rui Rodrigues, Matine, Jaime Graça, Artur Correia, José Henrique, Adolfo, Vitor martins, Eusébio, Nelinho, Jordão, Diamantino Costa, Shéu Han, António Simões and of course Nené.

Tamagnini Manuel Gomes Baptista – Nené (20/11/1949)

Leça da Palmeira located on the North of Portugal watched Nené being born on the year of 1949. With 19 years he began representing SL Benfica on a carear that last almost 20 Years.

It is difficult to talk about one of the most brilliant players, but referring some facts will turn for sure this task easier. The striker Nené took part of the squad who become Portuguese Champion 1973 without a single defeat and with 28 games won. Nené was victorious eleven times on the Portuguese Championship, winning 8 Portuguese Cups and two National Super Cups.

This fabulous striker also took part on the Uefa Cup final 1982-83 against the Belgian team Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht. He was the Portuguese player of the year in 1971.

The great striker Nené had great positional capacity, an excelent sense of oportunity and above all he scored a lot of goals.

Nowadays Nené is the Coordinator of the Benfica’s youth teams.

Yesterday night Benfica went to Canada where they played a friendly against Celtic Football Club and won the CNE Cup. The reds goals were scored by Ruben Pinto, Keirrison and Saviola. The match took place in Toronto where the BMO Field received almost 17000 spectators.

Liga Sagres: Vitória Sport Clube 0-1 SL Benfica

SL Benfica had the most difficult victory till now. The Vitória Sport Clube players, once orientated by Jesus are now well orientated by Prof Nelo Vingada, had more chances to score than our team. The motivated Guimarães players did all they could to defeat Benfica. Cardozo missed a great chance on a penalite shot but he his young and will soon now how to change things for better and present us all with great perfomances on the future games. Fortunately to SLB Ramires scored a great goal on a fault once again brilliantly marked by Fábio Coentrão.

The official games are harder to win and different from the pre-season, that were fantastic. On the day Jorge Jesus was announced as Benfica’s coach, for a two years contract with one more optional, he knew well that those difficulties would appear, but on this Club everyones thoughts are on winning. Jesus wants for sure to win Titles and be a positive mark on the history of the Reds. The words of Jesus saying that wanted to become Portugal Champion on this first year motivated even more the fans

The successor of Quique Flores wants to win everything, but the Spanish coach also dreamed with that, and the final results were not good as expected after months of brilliant work. Jesus wants above all to turn Quique’s team more dynamic. Jorge Jesus appreciates to study the opponent teams almost until exhaustion and ideas will appear when needed to change the positioning of the team. The lack of ideas was one critical point of Quique Flores that in a crucial season phase did not know how to solve similar the problems. Of course there is a big loss, Reyes that doesn’t belong anymore to this group, but other solutions were obtained by Rui Costa and the President LF Vieira.

Jorge Fernando Pinheiro de Jesus (24/07/1954)

Jorge Jesus was born almost 55 years ago, in Amadora, a city near Lisbon that grew tremendously in the last long years. In the local Club, Clube de Futebol Estrela da Amadora, he started playing, but soon changed to Sporting Clube de Portugal, where he stayed for two seasons. Sporting was also Jesus father Club where he played on one of the most kown teams ever. J. Jesus good performances made him wear the shirt of almost twenty Clubs, from the south to the north of Portugal. Later he returned to Amadora and before becoming Coach Jorge played one season for Sport Benfica e Castelo Branco.

Jorge Jesus learnt with the best on the beginning of his Coach career. The times spent on Barcelona with Johan Cruyff he will never forget.

J. Jesus represented, as coach, the following Football Clubs during his career:

Amora Futebol Clube (1989 - 1993);
Futebol Clube de Felgueiras (1993 - 1998);
Clube de Futebol Estrela da Amadora (1998 - 2000 and 2002/03);
Vitória Futebol Clube (2000 - 2002);
Vitória Sport Clube (2003/04);
Moreirense Futebol Clube (2004/05);
União Desportiva de Leiria (2005/06);
Clube de Futebol - «Os Belenenses» (2006 - 2008);
Sporting Clube de Braga (2008/09)

Jesus brought has on his staff, thre following top professionals:

Raul José is a well known coach that will be focalized on the forward players work;
Miguel Quaresma will have the specific job of training the defenders;
Mário Monteiro the third element of the staff will assume the players fitness.
Bruno Mendes works on the reds Lab and will be able to recover enjuried players;
Minervino Pietra the glourious Benfica player will transmite the Mystic to the group;
Luis matos will be the Goal Keepers Coach;
Marco Pedroso the video technician will study the teams.

Jorge Jesus is well known in Portugal by everyone who loves football. He likes discipline and rules. The benefits to the players are enormous although some don’t like initially his methods or probably his words. As a coach he likes detailed explications to the players in entrainments and also to the players on the bench during the games. If the players give their best they will become more discipline and more creative, and a better football model will apear on the team.

Next Thursday SL Benfica will play the second leg of the Europa League play offs. The four goals advantage scored on the home game against Vorskla Poltava allow Jesus the introduction of other players on the team. On the other hand will be able to avoid some fadig on other players.

Liga Sagres: Sport Lisboa e Benfica 1-1 Club Sport Marítimo

I Love Benfica

The slogan “I Love Benfica” is well known in Luz. The fans are proud of Benfica and they prove it going to the Stadium and demanding for a great Benfica. The team is not yet solid but last Sunday, although the result against CS Marítimo has been only a one goal draw, the public was happy with the players, the coach and their performance. So many chances created, with balls on the bar, penalty missed and knowing that the best player on the field was the opponent goalkeeper Peçanha. When things work out, the results will appear, consolidating that huge Love for Benfica.

The insular team Marítimo, scored on the 24th minute of the first half. The goal from Alonso was marked on a penalty shot. Benfica responded on a Weldon header at the 86’. The late goal was above all the result of a well organized Marítimo’s defence. The Madeira team deserved the point they took and proved that to defend a result the players don not need to turn the game boring.

Next Thursday Benfica will receive on Luz Stadium the FC Vorskla Poltava. The squad achieved this phase winning the Ukrainian Cup. Vorskla played in the annual opening game of the season, the Ukrainian Super Cup. FC Vorskla Poltava played against the champions Dynamo Kyiv. After a null draw at full time, Dynamo won the cup on penalties shots.

Some words of the Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, to the Press, about this game:

“The team (Vorskla) is not well known in Europe, but it is a good squad. They got Quality, stood on 4th Position on the Ukraine League, and won the Cup.”
“They play rapidly on offense transitions with two good players. I think the counterattacks are their best weapon.”
“It is important to us, score goals without suffering any. We want to go far on this competition. (…) We want to recover the Glory of other times”


FC Vorskla Poltava

FC Vorskla Poltava, once called Kolgospnyk, was founded on 5th day of January 1955. Vorskla is the name of the river that goes through the city of Poltava.

Achievements:
Owner of the Cup of Ukraine (1956);
Winner of Ukraine First League Championship (1995/96);
Bronze prize winner of the Ukraine Major League Championship (1996/97);
Participant in European Championships:
The Cup of UEFA 1996/97 (second qualifying round); 1999/2000 (first qualifying round);
The Cup of Intertoto 1997/98, (third qualifying round).
Owner of the Cup of Ukraine (2009).

City: Poltava
Country: Ukraine
Site: www.vorskla.com.ua

The Great Gladiator Eusébio

Benfica won the Eusébio Cup, against AC Milan, on a penalty shoot decision.

The Luz Stadium, with more than 60 000 spectators, watched Benfica players receiving the Trophy from the hands of the “Black Panther”.

The game was well disputed, and the victory deserved and justified, although the good performance of the Italian team.

Our coach Jorge Jesus had asked the players, before the game started, to play at least 50% of what Eusébio normally did. It seems that they heard him and dignified the Club giving the deserved honors to “The King”.

Football is one of the most fantastic sports of our times and certainly one of the most watched all over the world. Fortunately Benfica can sometimes proportionate full stadiums and if well managed this may allow the Club to earn a lot of precious money. On remote times the Romans used to watch several spectacles on the Roman Coliseum. The Emperor was there and tickets were paid. Also by that time a crowd of near 50 000 spectators watched Gladiators fighting on the Arena, sometimes until death. These public spectacles had the duration of all day long. Animals also participated and the crowds enjoyed the shows. The football players are the modern Gladiators also them are considered the heroes and have lots of women following them. If we were asked nowadays to choose an Emperor, we would for sure nominee the great Gladiator Eusébio da Silva Ferreira.

SL Benfica - AC Milan, 1-1 (5-4)

Portuguese League 2oo9/1o starts today

The season will start next weekend and the perfomance Jesus asked the players, will defintely be needed allong the all season. Only the most regular team, will agregatte more points and be the Champion.

God bless Jesus!

The players are learning the football concepts of the new Benfica’s coach Jorge Jesus, and the results are apearing.

A brilliant perfomance at the tounaments where Benfica participated. Three victories at Guadiana, Amsterdam and Guimarães. Tournaments.

Tomorrow an expected exciting game against a dificult opponent, AC Milan. After the last home defeat against the Spanish team Atheletic Madrid, the team wants a different result now.

The reds receive AC Milan on the second edition of the Eusébio Cup. Last year another Italian team took the Trophy, Inter Milano, but these year the Benfica fans want the victory.

Do not loose these game!

Uefa has a new football competition, Uefa Europa League, replacing Uefa Cup.

The competition started a few weeks ago and now is the time to Benfica catch the “european train” on the play off round.

The Europa League draw placed the ucranians FC Vorskla Poltava on Benfica way.

The games are expected to be played over two legs on 20 and 27 August 2009, home and away respectevely.

Berne, 1961 – European Champions Cup 1960/61

The first opponent of the Portuguese champion was the Scotish team Heart of Midlothian Football Club. Benfica brought a 2-1 victory from Edinburgh, J. Augusto and J. Águas scored the Portuguese goals. In Lisbon the vitory also smiled to Benfica on a three null victory. The same scorers but these time Águas scored twice.

The next round was against Újpest Football Club and after a large victory, 6-2 (J. Augusto 2, J. Águas, Santana and Cavém) on the first game in Luz, few believed Újpesti FC could do better. The second game in Budapest was a defeat 2-1 (Santana) but the main objectiv was obtained.

The Dannish team AGF - Aarhus Gymnastik Forening tried in vain to do better, but this Benfica was unstopable. Two victories marked the eliminatory, 3-1 in Lisbon (J. Augusto and J. Águas 2) and 4-1 in Denmark (J. Augusto 2, Santana and J. Águas).

The Austrian team, SK Rapid Wien came to Lisbon and suffered 3 goals (J. Águas, M. Coluna and Cavém). The second game had to end 3 minutes before the regulamentar time, this because by then the result was 1-1 (J. Águas) and the referee didn’t mark a supposed penalty fault.

On the 31st May 1961 the Wankdorf Stadium, in Berne, received the European Champions Cup Final. FC Barcelona, that had earlier eliminated Real Madrid CF, would be the other finalist, playing against SL Benfica. FC Barcelona had great players by that time, like for instance, the Hungarians Kubala, Kocsis and Czibor.

Location: Berne, Wankford Stadium (30 000 spectators)

Date: 31/05/1961

Referee: Gottfie Dienst (Switzerland).

Finalist Teams:

SL Benfica: Costa Pereira, Mário João, Ângelo, Neto, Germano, Cruz, José Augusto, Santana, José Águas, Coluna and Cavém.

FC Barcelona: Ramallets, Foncho, Garay, Vergés, Gensana, Garcia, Kubala, Suarez, Evaristo, Kocsis and Czibor.

Sport Lisboa e Benfica 3-2 Futbol Club Barcelona

The first goal of the game was scored by kocsis (20’) but before the end of the first half Águas scored and Vergés with an own goal, turned the result. Coluna scored soon on the second half, but FC Barcelona players made everything they could to change the result. Fortunately for us only Czibor scored (75’).

The Benfica’s Coach Bella Guttmann knew how, the team who had belonged before to Otto Gloria, could make brilliant exhibitions. The rest was done by, the Portuguese goalkeeper, Costa Pereira, and by his brave companions.

Preliminary round
Hearts FC 1-5 SL Benfica
FC Barcelona 5-0 KS Lierse

First round
Real Madrid CF 3-4 FC Barcelona
SL Benfica 7-4 Újpest FC
Quarter-finals
SL Benfica 7-2 AGF Århus
FC Barcelona 5-1 Hradec Králové

Semi-finals
FC Barcelona 2-2 Hamburg SV
SL Benfica 4-1 Rapid Wien

Final
SL Benfica 3-2 FC Barcelona

Season 2009/10

Club » Sport Lisboa e Benfica
Stadium » Luz
Academy » Caixa Futebol Campus (Seixal)
Foundation » 28 Feb 1904
President » Luís Filipe Vieira
Sports Director » Rui Costa
Head Coach » Jorge Jesus
Coaching Staff » Minervino Pietra and Raul José (Assistant Coaches) Mário Monteiro (Fitness Coach), Márcio Sampaio (Fitness Recovering Coach), Luís Matos (Goalkeeping Coach), Miguel Quaresma e Marco Pedrosa (Observers)
SL Benfica TV » benficatv@slbenfica.pt
Website » www.slbenfica.pt

PRE-SEASON

Caixa Futebol Campus (Seixal)

8 - 15 July » Tour » Switzerland
12th July » Football Club Sion 2-2 SLB
13th July » FC Shakhtar Donetsk 0-2 SLB

Next Games

16 - 18 July » Guadiana Tournament - Vila Real de Santo António (Athletic Club de Bilbao, Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht or Sporting Clube Olhanense)
21st July » Club Atlético de Madrid
24 - 26 July » Amsterdam Tournament (Sunderland Association Football Club, Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax NV, Club Atlético de Madrid)
1 - 2 August » Guimarães Tournament (Vitória Sport Clube and Portsmouth Football Club)
8th August » Eusébio Cup (Associazione Calcio Milan)

Benfica is leaving Switzerland, precisely the country where obtained the first European Champions Cup (1960/61).