Benfica 0-0 Inter (4-5 penalties)
August 15, 2008 , Estádio da Luz
in Lisbon, Portugal,19:45 local time, 11:45 PM USA Pacific time
See the play by play and starting lineup, starting 11 click here
3 more days for Eusebio Cup Benfica v. Inter. A little bit more about the probable Benfica starting lineup. Just what team will Inter Milan face?
Benfica new changes, coach and players for 2008-2009 preseason.
New coach is Spanish Quique Sanchez Florez.
The second spanish coach in less than one year. The last one was Jose Camacho.
New Sports director, former AC milan, Fiorentina, Benfica player, Manuel Rui Costa. New players to make Benfica more competitive in the UEFA cup and Portuguese League, Liga Sagres. Rui Costa, is signing major players this season: Spanish winger Jose Antonio Reyes presented 3 days ago. Argentinean midfielder Pablo "El Payasito" Aimar a few weeks ago.
Rui Costa is on the transfer market looking for a striker. Already travelled to Barcelona twice to negotiate with Luis Garcia from Espanyol. The impossible dream for Benfica fans is to RE-sign Fabrizio Miccoli from Palermo again. No chance.
Pre-season 2008-2009 won the last friendly Benfica 1 - 0 Feyernoord.
Not too good results of the Benfica pre-season games: Estoril 1-1 Benfica- July 19, 2008. Part of Torneio Guadiana: Benfica 2-3 Blackburn- July 25, 2008, Benfica 0-2 Sporting.
The Eusebio Cup is a chance for Quique to show fans he's done experimenting with the starting lineup. He can also start winning games in the pre-season. Their last game was their "presentation" game in front of their home fans at Estadio Da Luz. It was Benfica 1-0 Feyernoord. See the video:
Video of Benfica goal by Cardozo, Benfica v. Feyernoord, August 9, 2008
For the first time, Jose Antonio Reyes played with the Benfica jersey, came in as a substitute in the 80th minute and had a shot that hit the crossbar.
New players still have to know each other in the soccer field.
In today's training, August 12, 2008 Quique tested the understanding between forward Cardozo, Balboa, Jose Antonio Reyes and Urreta, supported by midfielders Binya and Carlos Martins.
Later, Quique tested the trio midfielder Pablo Aimar, Jose Antonio Reyes and forward Oscar Cardozo.
Two Benfica players to watch
Argentinean Midfielder Pablo Aimar. Benfica #10 not only can set up goals but with an individuality can score. Photo: slbenfica.pt
Paraguayan forward Oscar Cardozo.
This pre-season scored the winning goal in Benfica 1-0 Feyernoord.
You can also add Nuno Gomes as a forward to watch. Quique has shown in the last games that he prefers other forwards over Nuno Gomes. Quique is still on the lookout for another striker. He already got rid of Freddy Adu and negotiating a transfer for Makukula.
Benfica Probable starting lineup- based on last game Benfica 1-0 Feyernoord, August 9, 2008
Forward Cardozo and midfielder Aimar played in the starting lineup. Quique made the changes in the 73rd minute, and replaced them with forwards Nuno Gomes and Makukula.
BENFICA 1-0 Feyernoord:
Maxi Pereira -- Katsouranis -- Luisão -- Léo
Yebda -- Ruben Amorim -- Carlos Martins -- Urreta
Aimar -- Cardozo
substitutes: Moreira, Moretto, Miguel Vítor, Sidnei, Edcarlos, Balboa, David Luiz, Fellipe Bastos, Binya, Makukula, Nuno Gomes, Nélson, Jorge Ribeiro, Mantorras and Reyes
The Benfica side is no match for the big Inter Milan. All its superstars Figo, Adriano, Ibrahimovic. A midfielder like Cambiasso. Common sense says Inter will win comfortably Benfica 1-3 Inter.
- Your thoughts on Benfica v. Inter? Final score prediction?
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