Last Saturday night SL Benfica went to the northern, on the 21st "gameweek", to visit the team of the city of Matosinhos, Leixões SC. After the brilliant victory against Hertha Berlin SC, on a day where also Eusébio received the UEFA President’s Award from the hands of M. Platini, the reds returned to the League games with a victory for the same result, 4-0.
For the UEFA Europa League the reds received on Thursday afternoon the German team of Hertha Berlin SC and the final result was a great victory. Four goals for Benfica and zero for the Berliner team. Benfica dominated the majority of the game and made a tremendous exhibition. The Hertha Berlin players tried to avoid the Portuguese team goal with their maxim force and expected always to score a goal. Honestly, although the good performance of Drobný, the goalkeeper and from Cícero and Nicu, there was few they could do against this Benfica. Three goals of the game were scored by the Argentine Pablo Aimar (25’) and the other by Cardozo (48’ and 62’). The other goal of the game was obtained by Javi García who once again was very well. Javi that, after the game, told the Portuguese TV cameras that the team had played good football and defended very well, and considered also, that Benfica has good conditions to make good exhibitions in the UEFA Europa League.
On Saturday, when the Eagles entered the pitch of the Estádio do Mar everyone expected that SL Benfica players would be in "trouble". The weather was terrible, a cold night and lots of rain and of course, the home team, Leixões SC normally don't give many chances to the visitors. Nevertheless, a perfect football team entered that game and demonstrated a strong mentality. Benfica dominated the game and reached the first goal near the thirty minutes, when Éder Luís kicked the ball into the opponent nets. Éder Luís and Airton that started the game being part of the first team and responded correctly to what Jorge Jesus wanted from them. A great game also from Maxi Pereira, Ramires and Luisão always very secure. It is expected that Cardozo and Saviola score the team goals, but when on the game appears a players, in this case, like Àngel Di Maria the task is harder. Di Maria made an Hat trick with 3 goals scored. Well to say the truth he scored one more, when the result was still a draw, but it was invalidated for outside, a misjudge decision of the referee team. Also players like Quim, David Luiz, Fábio Coentrão had a great attitude and were later in the game helped by Carlos Martins, César Peixoto and Rúben Amorim that "jumped" from the reds bench.
Three very important points obtained on a difficult Stadium, the experts say that teams win Championships in this games. Well, Benfica isn't Champion yet but is for sure in the good way. Of course SC Braga is just on one point difference and the team needs to be extremely careful.
Also with this victory on the international competitions Benfica aims the next round and will face the French team of Didier Deschamps, Olympique de Marselha a good present to all Benfica lovers on the same week of the 106 anniversary of our glorious club Sport Lisboa and Benfica.
Also with this victory on the international competitions Benfica aims the next round and will face the French team of Didier Deschamps, Olympique de Marselha a good present to all Benfica lovers on the same week of the 106 anniversary of our glorious club Sport Lisboa and Benfica.
