SL BENFICA latest news -Uefa Cup bound

[Frank Cunha]

Moreira- a perfect 10- if Benfica qualify to the next round, it was in part by the performance of the goalkeeper Moreira, with 4 spectacular saves

Miguel -6- in the second half he played defence and was also in the attack in the wing position, left by Joao Pereira

Luisao -4- the brazilian international once again was lost, for a tall 1.92 meters he got beat on high balls, and missed on Karadas 2-0 goal


Ricardo Rocha -8- the best Benfica defender, he played with determination and finish the game as the men in charge

Cristiano 2- didn't play sense Dec 21, and Storflor pass thru him every time he wanted, the left side never exist, at the 56m gave a goal to Storflor, only Moreira was there with a magnificent save

Petit 8- was a giant, he played for two, when Benfica was playing with 10, he stole many balls, and still had time to go in the attack, on the last minute he lost a opportunity to score

Tiago 6- was lost in the first half, he found out he couldn't play the beautiful game, and soon dress the jump suit, and had a strong second half

Joao Pereira 4- soon found out it was not his day, was replace at the begin of the second half, because of Nuno Gomes red card

Zahovic 6- one of the few players the played his game from the begin to the end, he try to open space and assisted Nuno Gomes Goal

Simao 6- he was sacrificied for most the game - but he made sure the Rosenborg defenders didn't moved up

Nuno Gomes -2- went from hero to goat
stupid the way he made himself for a penalty, instead he could went for the second goal

subs
Helder 6- he help stablized the defence

Aguiar -6 give more muscle to the midfield

Armando -4- still had time to clear a few ball's out of the defence.

[Frank Cunha]

UEFA Cup: SL Benfica v. Inter Milan [R]
Benfica to play Internazionale of Milan in the UEFA Cup round of 16, in Lisbon on March 11 and in Milan on March 25. This is an interesting draw. For one thing, it's a rematch of the 1965 European Cup final, won by Inter. Normally I'd say Inter is one of the best teams that remains in this particular group of 16, but they have looked awful of late both domestically and in Europe. Inter barely managed to get past Sochaux, a mid-table French side, giving up a two-goal lead in France and drawing 0-0 in Milan. Also, Vieri was red-carded in their last match, so he's out for at least the next match.

That said, Inter are historically a strong side, and have won the UEFA Cup a number of times in the past decade alone, so they're definitely a strong challenge, and Benfica goes into this match very much the underdog.

The winner of this match will face the winner of Liverpool-Marseille in the quarters.

http://www.uefa.com/competitions/UE...sId=151307.html

[Frank Cunha]

revenge his coming

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpYjk0aWtjBF9TAzk1ODYzNTkwBHNlYwN0 aA--?slug=reu-uefainter&prov=reuters&type=lgns

[Carlo Ramos]

Well I'm not really aware of how Inter are doing but going by their great reputation and historical standing in football, I would say that Benfica look to be going out.

[Frank Cunha]

we also got tradition, will give the italians on run for themeselves

[Jager]

I won't make a prediction on this one, but it all depends which INTER shows up. I believe Vieri will miss the first match, as he was red carded in the last game. Having said that, we still have allot of firepower. Martins, Recoba and Cruz, will likely start.

Hopefully we'll get some of our injured back, namely Emre and Cannavaro.


Can somebody tell me how Benfica plays? Strong points to their game?

[tyrus]

i got a better question who's going to start upfront for benfica? gomes out
mantoras injured
feher passed away
that leaves you guys with only sokota right.
hey argel knows how to score goals. ok so their own goals but if you guys put him by the other teams net maybe just maybe he'll score

[verde-rubro]

the team that can get to the semi will go all the way to the final.
Auxerre/PSV/Newcastle/Mallorca v Liverpool/Marseille/Inter/Benfica

UEFA Cup draw
Fourth Round draw
Matches to be played on March 11 and 25
Celtic v Barcelona
Genclerbirligi v Valencia
Bordeaux v Club Brugge
Newcastle United v Real Mallorca
Auxerre v PSV Eindhoven
Inter Milan v Benfica
Liverpool v Marseille
Villarreal v AS Roma

Quarter-final draw
Matches to be played on April 8 and 14
Bordeaux or Club Brugge v Genclerbirligi or Valencia
Liverpool or Marseille v Inter Milan or Benfica
Celtic or Barcelona v Villarreal or AS Roma
Auxerre or PSV Eindhoven v Newcastle or Real Mallorca

Semi-final draw
Matches to be played on April 22 and May 6
Auxerre/PSV/Newcastle/Mallorca v Liverpool/Marseille/Inter/Benfica
Celtic/Barcelona/Villarreal/Roma v Bordeaux/Brugge/G'birligi/Valencia


Final to be played in Gothenburg , Sweden, on May 19

[verde-rubro]

benfica will be at home for the 1st leg its a shame.

[Jager]

INTER is strange, they either play like sh!t or they score in bundles.

By the way Frank, even though Sochaux were a mid table french side. They were a difficult opponent to face. Very fast, and played the counterattack precisely. We will be ready for Benfica though, as its our only chance at silverware this year.

[verde-rubro]

benfica are strugling with no one upfront.

i take it, it is 1 match ban for 2 yellows and red. did Vieri get a red or did he get 2 yellows 1st then the red.

[Jager]

He got a red in the last match...so he is out, for the first match. For some reason, this doesn't bother me, as it means Martins will play. He will open up the Benfica defence with his pace.

[Thatslife]

moreira a 10 after that dodgey perfomance in the area? and what was that playing injured all about??? a disgrace to football like baia in the UEFA cup finale

if i were the striker i'd kick his head in


don't be such a poor loser
That's life :hey:

[Frank Cunha]

Karadas 22 a ex defender, also a U21 national team player for the Norway team,
he was spectacular against Dinamo Kiev when he scored a hat trick
the salary shouldn't be a problem he only get 125 thousand euros a year.

'VICE' DO ROSENBORG
Vieira mostra interesse no avançado Karadas

O Benfica está atento a Azar Karadas, ponta-de-lança do Rosenborg, e pediu informações sobre o atleta durante o jantar que juntou as direcções dos dois clubes na terça-feira, véspera do jogo. Luís Filipe Vieira e António Simões conversaram com Ove Snuruas, "vice" do Rosenborg que representou o presidente Knut Skoglund - ausente por motivos de saúde -, não só para elogiarem as capacidades futebolísticas do avançado, mas também para ficarem a saber as respectivas condições salariais.

No entender dos dirigentes encarnados, o plantel às ordens de Camacho necessita de um ponta- -de-lança possante e forte no jogo aéreo para complementar as características de Nuno Gomes, Sokota e Mantorras (Vieira continua convencido que o angolano vai regressar em pleno na próxima temporada).

E Karadas tratou de confirmar frente ao Benfica os créditos de cabeceador temível com um grande golo, lance que serviu para Vieira e Simões confirmarem "in loco" as boas referências que tinham depois do "hat-trick" no particular frente ao Dínamo de Kiev.

Quanto às condições financeiras, não será por aí que haverá problemas de maior, tendo em vista um eventual negócio entre as partes. Ao que apurámos, Karadas ganha 125 mil euros (cerca de 25 mil contos na moeda antiga) por ano mais prémios de jogo, um complemento de vencimento privilegiado pelos clubes noruegueses. Estamos, portanto, a falar de valores perfeitamente acessíveis aos cofres encarnados e enquadrados no que é praticado no plantel.

Além disso, ainda há outro factor que pode jogar a favor dos encarnados. Karadas renovou, recentemente, contrato com o Rosenborg, mas comprometeu-se apenas até 30 de Junho de 2005, porque há uma vontade de dar o salto para um clube de maior projecção.

Assim, o avançado torna-se um jogador livre já no próximo mês de Janeiro, o que pode pressionar os dirigentes noruegueses a fixar um preço mais baixo, caso surja uma proposta do Benfica durante o defeso.

Acrescente-se que o relacionamento entre os dois clubes, que tinha ficado muito abalado pelo episódio da contratação de Rushfeldt no Verão de 99, ficou bem mais cordial após a recepção em Lisboa e o jantar de direcções na Noruega. Ao ponto de ter estado em cima da mesa um protocolo entre os dois clubes tendo em vista um intercâmbio de jogadores.

Antigo central

Azar Karadas é jovem (22 anos) e, além da elevada estatura (1,89 m), há outro motivo que explica o excelente jogo de cabeça. É que o atleta começou a jogar como defesa-central, sendo nessa posição que deu nas vistas na selecção sub-21 e que lhe permitiu destacar-se ao serviço do Brann ao ponto de motivar o interesse do grande Rosenborg.

Já em Trondheim, Karadas começou por alinhar no eixo da defesa. Depois, alternou o sector mais recuado com o flanco direito do ataque, até que no princípio da época passada o técnico decidiu fixá-lo na posição de ponta-de-lança.

Autor: NUNO MIGUEL FERREIRA

[Frank Cunha]

U21 Moreira, Benfica goalkeeper to get a contract offer until 2010
Benfica to make a offer the will keep U21 goalkeeper Moreira at Benfica until year 2010,
Moreira contract runs until June 2006, but the Benfica SAD wants to keep the keeper until 2010
Moreira latest performance's including yesterday game with Rosenborg was the decision factor, because he came from the Benfica youth team, and his one of the worst paid players on the team, will get a big pay raise

Benfica already have Simao, Miguel and know Moreira,to long term contracts, next will be Ricardo Rocha and Tiago





PROPOSTA DE RENOVAÇÃO ATÉ 2010
Moreira fica na Luz por mais seis anos

O Benfica vai apresentar a Moreira uma proposta de prorrogação do contrato até 2010. O jovem guarda-redes, cujo desempenho na Noruega foi fundamental para que o clube da Luz passasse aos oitavos-de-final da Taça UEFA, termina o vínculo com os encarnados em Junho de 2006, mas a SAD pretende garantir desde já a continuidade do promissor guardião nas suas fileiras.

Esta proposta vai naturalmente implicar um aumento do vencimento do jovem jogador. Grande parte do processo de formação foi efectuado nas escolas da Luz e, nesta circunstância, por ser um "produto" da casa, ainda ganha consi