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).