Carlsberg Cup.Rio Ave Futebol Clube 1-2 Sport Lisboa e Benfica

Once again in a short period of time, two weeks, SL Benfica went to Vila do Conde and won the game. This time the competition was different, Carlsberg Cup, but the wish to win the same.

Rio Ave FC, received the reds on the cold Sunday night and as usual played a lot to get a victory against SLB. We know that the teams of Carlos Brito are always tuff, and those players who entered on that game were, for sure, no different. Carlos Martins scored the first goal of the game, but few minutes later, Rio Ave FC achieved the goal. A fault committed by David Luiz originated a penalty that was, successfully converted by Bruno Gama. Later and when Rio Ave FC, was showing some tiredness, from another recent game they had for the Portuguese Cup, Di Maria shoot accurately for the second goal of the game.

Maxi Pereira and Moreira were very well on this game, similar work had the new player Alan Kardec, who had the chance to enter the game and send for two times the ball to the posts.

Benfica achieved the first place of the group and will go into the next phase. The adversary was precisely chosen today, and the draw dictated that our glorious team will play against our eternal rivals in there stadium. The game against Sporting CP will be probably on the 9th or on the 10th of February.

Yesterday, the great Portuguese player Eusébio made 68 years old. What better way to celebrate that date than opening a particular game between the old glories of SL Benfica and other Stars, the Zidane friends. Unfortunately, like the king observed, the reasons to join us all here are not the better, and we know that everything we do against poverty or in this concrete case to help the Haiti people, will always seem few. Among the players the public, more than 51.000 spectators, had the pleasure to see Fernando Chalana, Nené, Mats Magnusson, Figo, Kaká and Zidane. The final result was a 3 goals draw but the best result was that amount of money obtained with the Portuguese public collaboration.

Maybe the players who passed yesterday by the Luz Stadium are a bit fatter, with the more white hairs, and also a bit slower, nevertheless we will never forget the ones who so much happy moments gave to us, football lovers. Thank you all for being who you are.

Liga sagres: Club Sport Marítimo 0-5 Sport Lisboa e Benfica

SL Benfica wins against the CS Maritimo team, in Madeira island, and keeps sharing the top of the Portuguese Liga with SP Braga.

Recently, there were the huge and known celebrations of the new year, in the Madeira Island. One of the most popular places in Portugal and in Europe, to celebrate the entrance in the new year. Probably the Maritimo players were still recovering from that particular night. The mistakes the players orientated by Mitchel van der Gaag were so many that, was difficult not winning that game.

Last Sunday the Lisbon team made one of the most intelligent games on this season. Benfica conceded some ball control to the home team, during half an hour, but on the other hand, the team of Paulo Jorge and Manú had few spaces to play. During this period a lonely chance, created by Cláudio Pittbull, took some danger to the nets protected by Quim. After this, the red forwards demonstrated their great capacities. Di Maria, Aimar and Cardozo helped Saviola (30') scoring the first goal. A brilliant header from "El Conejo" that gave no chance to Peçanha, the CS Maritimo goalkeeper. Peçanha was disappointed with his companions and, more reasons had a few moments later, when Olberdam decided to say something probably nasty and the referee heard and he become expulsed from the game. On the 34' Maxi Pereira appeared on the area and scored the second of the eagles. Before the end of the first half, Robson originates a penalty and sees the red card. Cardozo called to kick the penalty doesn't miss and scores the third goal of the team.

On the second part of the game, Jorge Jesus players controlled even better the match and reached the goal, for two more times. An own goal by R. Sousa and the other from the team captain, the Brazilian Luisão. When Carlos Martins, Nuno Gomes and Éder Luís entered the game, few was left to do.

The referee could have marked two penalties, one against Benfica on an eventual hand from Maxi and the other against CS Marítimo on a eventual fault on Aimar. But in a global way the work of João Ferreira and his team was positive and did not caused any interference on the final result (0-5).

On the thirteen January SLB visited Vitória SC for the Carlsberg Cup and achieved a draw on a terrible pitch. The weather in Guimarães was terrible and both teams suffered a lot to be able to play a decent match. Douglas (56') scored for Vitória SC and Fábio Coentrão (75') equalized the game. Few spectators (4.318) and few more to say besides the titularity given by J. Jesus to Julio César, Roderick and to Éder Luís.

The liga Cup needs to be more attractive, in terms of sport and earnings. It is urgent to rebuild the competition in a way that everybody can be satisfied, the Clubs and of course the fans.

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

In one of the most difficult games of this weekend, the reds visited Via da Conde, and brought three precious points back home.

Everyone knew that playing against Rio Ave FC, at their place, is extremely complicated and, if any doubts could be, the results achieved by them on the first half of the Liga Sagres, express perfectly well that: 7 games played – 2 Victories – 4 draws – 1 defeat. Useless to say that the defeat was this Saturday night against Benfica.

Jorge Jesus wanted to win this game, but he couldn’t get to much risks and suffering a goal. The eagle players could have entered better on the first half, but the structure of Rio Ave FC, made by Carlos Brito, didn’t allow that. Players like Fábio Faria, Bruno Gama and also the veteran João Tomás, for instance, consolidate this northern team, making of it one of the most solid on the midfield and mainly on the defence. Fortunately for us the return from the dressing rooms gave the players a different moral, that allowed Benfica reaching the goal. The goal was scored by Saviola on a lucky kick, after a corner kick has been marked and the opponent players stayed mainly worried with the taller guys.

Javier Pedro Saviola Fernández (1981/12/11)

Javier Saviola known also as El Conejo (The Rabbit) was born in, Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1981.

This Argentine player who also detains the Spanish nationality, by the age of sixteen began playing football on River Plate. The excellent performances and the title of the South American Football player of the year 1999 helped his talent being recognized.

The European dream became true, for one of the most important teams of the old Continent, Barcelona FC signed him when he was 19 years old. Louis Van Gaal helped him grew up and he responded with goals. After that fantastic season some ups and downs occurred on Cataluña and ended with the loan to the French team of AS Monaco FC. Later another loan allowed him the conquer of the Uefa Cup, while representing this Spanish team of Sevilla FC, in 2006. The return to Barça was a reality but noticed was the following season when Real Madrid signed with him.

This striker is known by his agility and velocity. He scores easily and likes to appear on the second posts on corner kicks and free kicks. Saviola likes to enter the penalty area with or without the ball to score. A disgrace to the opponent defensives.

Now it is time to represent the reds and play in the Cathedral "Luz". Among his companions, one above all, has many responsabilities for the presence of Javier in Luz, is name P. Aimar. His old River Plate mate told him, how big Benfica is and, how he could once again show his qualities, this time in Portugal.

Everyone can see that the "Rabbit" is happy for being playing with regularity and also for being part of this Benfica team.

Tonight Benfica will visit the city where Portugal became a Nation, Guimarães where we will be facing the local team Vitória Sport Clube. This game is the second one of the Liga Cup Group competition, where we expect another victory.

Carlsberg Cup : Sport Lisboa e Benfica 1-0 Clube Desportivo Nacional

The year started well for the reds. A victory on the 1st round of the Carlsberg Cup 2oo9/1o group phase.

Benfica received the Madeira team, CD Nacional and won. The reds couldn't have had a better result after the holidays period. To return to competition after Xmas and the New Year celebrations is not definitively easy.

The eagles appeared with a bit of apathy on the first half, where Carlos Martins, had a good chance to score for the reds. On the second half Nuno Gomes (78') entered into the game and made an amazing pass to Saviola who once again scored "easily".

A note to the referee O. Benquerença and his team who weren't lucky in Luz, penalizing both teams. For instance, not marking penalties that could have been marked and avoiding to show the red cards on more aggressive disputes between players. Also a goal for National may have been wrongly invalidated. We also think like the Portuguese Liga President hoping that any day in the future technologies may be implemented on football, helping the referee teams make there job even better.

Yesterday Benfica received Centro Desportivo de Fátima for a friendly on Caixa Futebol Campus and lost. The final result was 1-2, and the reds goal, was from the argentine Di Maria. The new acquisitions of SL Benfica, Airton, Alan Kardec and Éder Luís had the chance to show some of their qualities.

This young players demonstrate that the eagles are in the right way to build a even more competitive team. Now it is time to recover the fitness. The harder competition phase is yet to come.