Liga Sagres: SL Benfica 3-2 Club Sport Marítimo‏

Game on 2009-04-26
Stadium of Luz 8 pm

Last Sunday Benfica had a difficult victory against Marítimo. If the game duration was only 45 minutes the result would have been brilliant. Three null at half time was the result. But the game has 90 minutes and the Maritimo players understood the message of Carlos Carvalhal passed on the Dressing Room.

Óscar Cardozo showed once again is qualities and Nuno gomes helped him much with his task. Quique Flores responded well when our team began loosing the midfield, although the first substitution, entering Angel to the place of Aimar, hadn’t caused the effect pretended by the Coach. Katsouranis indeed helped the team recover the control of the games and blocking the good reaction of the Madeira team. Hassan Yebda entered the game a bit late but the only one to blame is Reyes, that contributed much to this victory.

Hassan Yebda (1984/05/14)

Hassam Yebda was born in in Saint-Maurice region, France. He grew up playing in the youth teams of Auxerre. The midfielder with Algerian origin had not many chances in the main team but his talent was yet to be shown.

Yebda represented for several years Auxerre (2004-07). In between, he played one season for Stade Lavallois Mayenne and the year before his acquisition by Benfica played for Le Mans.

Yebda is a great midfielder player that had big difficulties in proving his qualities and value in France. The best qualities of Yebda are his velocity, his capacity of anticipation and his good performance with his header. The good performances of the player in the last two years called the attention of some important European Clubs. We only wish that they don’t come and take him away from us. Let’s allow Hassan Yebda, to know, the true sensation of, winning trophies representing our Club.

Yebda is without any doubt one of the best Benfica acquisitions from the last years. Players with great potential are needed at our Club and we need to make them rentable. Them and of course all the players growing up in our youth teams.

Liga Sagres: Vitória Futebol Clube 0-4 SL Benfica

A soft Setúbal received a motivated Benfica team.

The way the Benfica team, that visited Setúbal last Sunday, played, surprised many of the spectators present. Our team played so well that made us remember the Glorious Benfica from other seasons.

The players had talked the week before and everybody knew things could be different if they worked together as a team. Of course when balls enter the nets and the goals appear everything seems easier. The sportive goals for the season are getting harder to reach but the better goal is reached this season that is gaining players, coach and a project that can re-launch the Club.

Victorio Maximiliano Pereira Páez (08/06/1984)

Maximiliano was born in Uruguay. The Montevideo player becomes known representing the Defensor Sporting Club. Maxi represented the Uruguayan Club between the years of 2002 and 2007.

Maxi came to Benfica to play in the right side of the midfield. Later he played some games on the same side but on the defence. The results were good and Maxi assumed the place occupied earlier by Nelson on the defence.

The current season demonstrates the great player Maxi can be, he is without any doubt the most regular player of the year in the Club. Maxi Pereira is the typical South American player who we appreciate in Europe giving everything he can during the 90 minutes.

Players like Maxi Pereira probably don’t score the goals that are appreciated by the common fans.

Players like Maxi with their solid, secure and constant way of playing help for sure teams gaining points and conquering victories and titles.

Liga Sagres: SL Benfica 0–1 Associação Académica de Coimbra

An unlucky game may have thrown away the lost hopes of winning the present Portuguese League.

The “students” team, Associação Académica de Coimbra did it again, after the victory obtained last season at Luz stadium, they won again. This time, the victory was completely different, the Benfica players failed goals that could and should have changed the final result.

Many supporters want another coach to the team. Others want some other players, but things are not solved so easily. The organization of the Club is for sure better that in the large years passed. The majority of people inside the Club know exactly what they need to do and what is expected from them.

Here we give some suggestions that may be already implemented but if they exist maybe they should be reworked: offering a target bonus that encourages the players and incentive their productivity; Players with strong Mentality are needed so Psychological experts are fundamental on the modern football. The players are professionals and their costs are elevated for the Club so they must have near them someone defending the Club interests. This science will help the players putting away their ghosts, understanding at the same time in what areas the player can be helped. Good investments must be done to receive later more benefits and incomes.

Sidnei Rechel da Silva Junior (23/06/1989)

Sidnei was born in Alegrete, Brazil. He started playing football in the Sport Club International team from Porto Alegre. He knew he had to catch the chance when God allow it. A companion lesion made him jump to the first team, thrown by the Brazilian coach Abel Braga. Representing International and also Brazil, Sidnei had the companion of Alexandre Pato, also know showing his qualities in Europe.

He is a strong central defender. The way Sidnei plays football is so brilliant that his youth doesn’t matter at all. On the defensive everyone likes to play with him, he acts quickly and with security, giving tranquillity to other players mates. Sidnei frequently helps the team scoring goals when a corner kick or a free kick occurs.

The value of a Central player is demonstrated by a sum of factors like Quality of pass (short/long), Defensive Positioning, Team Spirit, Mentality, Good interpretation of the game. Sidnei already shows these qualities that are improving since the International times. If Sidnei’s career develops as expected he will sooner or later have the Champions League Cup on his hands. The question is: will that moment be while representing SL Benfica?

Liga Sagres: CF Estrela da Amadora 1-2 SL Benfica

Amadora is one of the cities around Lisbon that grew tremendously, in the last 30-40 years. The local Club Estrela da Amadora also became bigger and the importance of it made it a habitué of the first Portuguese League.

Last Sunday the city team received Benfica in one of the games that can bring money to help the Estrela Club Finances. The situation is delicate and the players have difficulties on receiving the salary they earn. Some decisions are hard to take by the players but, when things don’t go the way they should, the entrainment can be canceled. At the end Benfica won the game but all who love the sport cannot be indifferent to this.

When these situations occur, will the Coach and his team be able to give the best on the field?